Page 176 of Obsessed by My Ex's Mafia Uncle

“Yes, and Robert was there too.” She continues anyway, completely committed now.

“And what was Robert doing in this dream?” Christine asks softly, her eyes glued to Blue like she still can’t fully believe she’s awake.

“You saved me from the karate goat.” Blue turns back toward me instantly.

“That sounds difficult.” I smile.

“It was.” She pats my shoulder sympathetically. “But you won.”

“Thank God,” Atelia chuckles under her breath.

Blue grows quiet for a second after that, thoughtful now.

“Can I ask a question?”

Every adult in the room answers ‘yes’ at once.

Blue looks directly at me.

“Can I call you Daddy?” She asks it so simply that it almost doesn’t register at first.

And when it does, the room freezes completely. Even the machines suddenly feel muted.

My heart stops so hard it physically hurts.

Christine blinks.

Aisha’s mouth falls open.

Atelia presses her lips together like she’s trying not to combust.

“Because…” Blue, completely unaware she just detonated the emotional stability of every adult present, continues softly. “Because you were Daddy in my dream.”

That breaks the ice.

Aisha bursts into tears laughing.

Atelia outright loses the battle and starts cackling.

Christine presses both hands over her face as laughter and sobs collide helplessly.

And me, I can’t move for a second. I can barely breathe.

Blue frowns slightly at everyone’s reaction.

“What?” She asks innocently.

I laugh then, the sound wrecked but fuller than anything I’ve made in years.

“Yeah, princess.” I pull her closer against my chest again and kiss the top of her head. “You can call me Daddy.”