Page 16 of Bedtime Stories
I want the earth to swallow me whole. “He’s not—it’s not like that—it’s just?—”
Keane takes the badge with a calm, easy smile, pins it to his shirt pocket, and says, “Trial Daddy. I can work with that.”
But then he tugs me close as he pins the badge through the strap of my overalls, and his warm breath ghosts my ear.
“I’m pretty good at convincing a jury, kiddo. I hope I’m just as good at convincing you,” he whispers, making sparks ignite within my belly.
The Littles laugh and whoop as if he just scored a touchdown, and Theo sighs dramatically. “Ugh, Oren, you’re living my dream.”
I cover my face with both hands. If I stay hidden long enough, maybe no one will notice I’m blushing down to my toes.
But then I feel Keane’s hand again, firm on the small of my back. Just enough pressure to remind me he’s here. Just enough to make me peek through my fingers and find him looking at me as if I’m not ridiculous at all.
Like maybe… he’s proud.
And that’s somehow worse and better than everyone teasing combined.
