Page 23 of Bedtime Stories
My chest swells, then caves, then swells again, as if my whole ribcage doesn’t know what to do with this kind of praise.
His voice gentles even more. “Now… another question. Do you need help changing your undies?”
I squeak. Actually squeak. My hands fly up to cover my eyes.
“Nooo…”
“Oren.”
“I—I like wearing them,” I admit in a rush, cheeks blazing. “They’re, um, warm. And… familiar. But I promise I’ll change. After breakfast. With, um… help. If you still want to.”
“That’s my boy,” he murmurs, and somehow it sounds like the best bedtime story I’ve ever heard. Keane leans a little closer. “You want your reward now?”
I nod before I can stop myself. He digs in the side pocket of his duffel and presses something into my hands. A piece of candy, wrapped in bright foil, shaped like a star.
I blink at it. “You… carry rewards around?”
He shrugs, amused. “Isn’t that what good Daddies do? Sometimes a sweet treat says it better than I can. And besides, you love sugar.”
My chest goes gooey, like the chocolate’s already melting in me. I clutch the star tight, my face burning, and blurt out, “I’ll drink water. Lots of water. And I’ll eat healthy stuff. And no sprinkles for breakfast tomorrow, I swear. And?—”
Keane chuckles, warm and low. “Slow down, kiddo.”
I groan, covering my face. “I’m just… super-duper embarrassed right now.”
Gently, Keane tugs my hands from my face and smiles kindly, almost amused.
“Mm.” His hand rubs soothing circles between my shoulder blades. “Then consider your candy a reward for honesty, too. Sticky undies and all.”
