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I turned back to my breakfast, realizing I had only taken a few bites. The omelet and toast had gone cold, but I shoveled a few more bites into my mouth.
“You didn’t like it?” asked Cook, drawing his eyebrows together.
“No.” I swallowed and reached for another bite. “I mean yeah. It’s good.”
He studied me under his heavy eyebrow bone and then nodded. “Well, when you’re done, we’re going to head out.”
I almost jumped out of my seat, dropping the fork. “Home?”
“Yup, gotta get back to the Ridge,” said Cook.
Chapter 18
Cook
When Maddie and I returnedto the house outside the Ridge, I tried to take her inside, but she stood outdoors, her face pointed to the sun. It was like she was soaking in the warm rays. Her skin glittered. I tried to ignore how long she had been held as a prisoner, unable to come and go as she wanted.
I leaned against the wooden porch column as she stayed basking in the sun with the red-rock cliffs in the background. The cacti seemed to lean toward her. She smiled, breathing in deeply, and I tried to ignore how good it felt to have her close. How good it was to watch her be happy. How easy it seemed.
I fell back, the column finally cracking and the roofline groaning with the lack of support. The house was old, and the porch was in decay. I caught myself on the wall before I fell, but I nearly ripped the window out of the sill in the process. The few seconds of stumbling aside, I managed to keep myself upright, even if I looked like a fucking idiot.
“Cook!” Maddie ran toward me.
I held out my hand and looked up as though the sky might fall. “Careful. Of the roof!”
With my eyes up, I inched out from under the overhang, and she paused before stepping up to my side.
“Are you okay?” Maddie asked.
“Yeah.” Embarrassed, especially in front my soon-to-be ol’ lady, but okay.
A small gasp echoed from Maddie, mixed with a wheeze, and I cringed. Had I scared her so badly that she was crying now? I was okay. I straightened myself and faced her. Maddie had her hand over her mouth, and her cheeks were blooming with a tinge of pink. But her eyes weren’t wet. She wasn’t crying—she was fucking laughing at me.
“It’s not funny,” I said in a low voice, but the side of my mouth quirked up too.
“Of course, Cook.” She tried to school her face, but then a smile broke out across her lips. She giggled all over again.
Her happiness almost made me laugh aloud. Just her airy sounds warmed my heart, but I shook my head, giving a warning. “Maddie.”
“Sorry, Daddy.” She bit her bottom lip like she meant to physically hold herself back, but her belly still shook like she was laughing, and tears sprang into her eyes.
Laughing so hard she was crying. God fucking damn.
Light shone in her eyes like this was the funniest thing to ever happen.
I held out my hand to her, and she took it. A small jolt rolled up my bones. I helped her across the porch, frowning at the work I needed to do today. I had other plans with Maddie, and most of them involved being in bed or developing more pictures.
Making this home safe for her, though, was far more important.
“What is it?” asked Maddie, able to read me too well.
And here I thought I had a poker face. “I’ll need to fix the porch today—or at least, get it stable,” I said with a huff.
“I can help you,” said Maddie.
“Really?”
“Yes.” Maddie cozied up next to me, her shoulder brushing against my chest.
