Page 2 of Gravity

Her face pales with concern, her eyes filling with tears as she whispers. “But you are going to be okay?”

Reaching out, I tuck her hair behind her ear. “Can you remember that time you fell off your bike, cutting your knees, and it took a while to heal?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that is what it’s like with me. I’m going to be okay; I’m just going to look a little bruised for a while.”

“That would make me sad, too.”

I smile.

Sitting forward to place her empty glass on the coffee table, Nora turns to face me, the corners of her mouth are covered in chocolate, a white moustache of milk on her top lip. A cute look of curiosity and innocence spreads across her face. "Momma always says that whensomeone is sad, all they need to make them better is a cuddle. Do you need a cuddle, Grayson?"

My mouth tugs with her cuteness. This little girl is incredible. I remember the day she was born—this tiny little bundle wrapped in pink had been a shock to everyone. Her brother, from that moment he held her, promised his parents he'd protect her forever and I vowed to do the same. Yet here she is, trying to comfort me and fix my shitty life with a simple cuddle. Something tells me, though, that she needs the comfort of the cuddle as much as I do as her nightmare is no doubt still very much in her mind.

"I'd love a cuddle."

She beams, and scooting over, she snuggles beside me on the couch, her arm circling my stomach lightly, Scuttle resting between us.Her tiny frame molds against mine and I place my arm around her shoulders. Soon enough, Nora’s breathing becomes shallow, her anxious state now fading, so I lie back, holding her against me and covering us both with the blanket.

“Grayson,” she whispers, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?”

“I dreamt that my daddy died.”

The rawness of her words hit hard. The discomfort rips through my heart from her little confession. How the fuck do I reply to that? I can’t say it will never happen and that he will never leave her because the man works in the Navy—he’s on the frontline for Christ’s sake—and everybody dies eventually.

I do the only thing that feels right, and pulling her closer, I kiss the top of her head and look down at those big eyes full of apprehension that stare back at me.

“So, it’s not just me that needed this cuddle after all?”

She smiles sadly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” I lift her chin, needing her to know she has nothing to be sorry about. “Never apologize for being sad, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good girl,” I whisper. “Now, sleep time. Time to dream about sea turtles and pretty fish.”

When she closes her eyes, I take the pad of my forefinger and gently trace it down her nose, repeating the movement, knowing it always helps her to fall asleep.

“Grayson.”

I smile to myself, wondering if she will ever nod off or if I’m in for a night of childlike talk. “Yeah?”

“Can you promise me something?”

“What?” I ask, still stroking her nose, her eyes still closed.

“I know I’m just a kid but… no matter what, promise you will always be my friend. Forever and ever.”

My mom always told me never to make promises because you can’t always keep them. But there is something about this girl that changes everything I’ve been taught. So, I reply with a truth that I hold close to my heart and a promise that I know will never be broken.

“Shortcake, you are the only little lady in my life. You’re stuck with me, forever.”

Chapter One

Nora