When
Anna came back into the room, I was my usual self—just a half chub was trying
to poke through my jeans. But even that faded when I saw the little miracle in
my wife’s arms. “Daddy!” Gibson tossed her hands my way and leaned so hard in
my direction that Anna had to struggle to hold on to her. Gibson’s little face
scrunched with annoyed concentration while she fought against her mom. Then,
with a pout that only a little kid could make adorable, she turned and scowled
at Anna. “Want Daddy.” She said it as a command, not a request. Gibson was only
around a year and a half, but she already knew what she wanted, and she fully
expected to get her way. She was so much like me, it was scary.
Anna
rolled her eyes but stepped closer so Gibson could reach me. When her little
hands touched my skin, they suddenly became razor-like talons. Like an eagle
securing a fish from the sea, Gibson clamped onto my forearm with a surprising
amount of freakish strength. “Ow, shit! Relax, Gibs. I’m right here.”
Grunting,
I pulled her into my side and examined what was left of my arm. I half expected
to see a mutilated flap of skin hanging off the bone. Instead, all I saw were
bright red streaks where she’d raked me. Anna winced. “Guess I need to cut her
nails. Sorry.”
I
shrugged. “The day isn’t truly awesome until a gorgeous girl has scratched me
up. I wear my war wounds with pride.” Looking at the design she’d left behind,
I added, “I might actually get this one tattooed on me. How cool would
permanent shred marks be?”
Anna
smiled, then shook her head. “No, if you want claw marks to tattoo, I’ll give
you some good ones. Then every time you look at them, you can remember how you
got them.”
“Damn…yeah,
that’s a much better plan. Fuck, you have the best ideas.”
Gibson
grabbed my nose and pulled my attention her way, where she liked it. Girl had a
jealous streak a mile wide. Looking at her was like looking at a miniature
version of me, if I were a girl. She had the same light blue eyes, same blond
hair, although hers was a pristine platinum color while mine was a little
dirtier. As it should be. She gave me a smile full of shiny white teeth, then
spouted, “Fuck.”
Anna
crossed her arms over her chest, but her expression was more amused than
annoyed. “I think we’re at the point where we need to start watching our
language.”
I
looked past Gibson to Anna. “Watch my language? You might as well ask me to hop
on one foot while reciting the alphabet backwards. I can’t police myself like
that twenty-four-seven. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.”
Anna
swished her hands at Gibson. “Well, she’s starting to copy you, and if we don’t
put a stop to it now, she’s going to start calling people cocksuckers soon.”
I
started laughing. “That…would be so awesome.”
Anna
put her hands on her hips; true irritation was starting to edge out her
amusement now. “No, it wouldn’t be.” She smiled. “Well, yeah, it kind of would
be, but as parents, we have to put a stop to that kind of stuff.” She sighed.
“Well, we should try anyway.”
Looking
back at Gibson, I frowned. “I suppose I could try.” Even though I was sure she
didn’t have a clue what we were talking about, Gibson laid her head on my
shoulder, wrapped her arms around my neck, and patted my back like she was
encouraging me. Yeah, if it would help Gibson, I would try to control my mouth.
There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do for that little girl.
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