‘Okey-dokey, C-man,’ Kayden said, making him grin more. How could he not like this dude? There was not a damned mean bone in his body. Even growling at him didn’t ruffle him one iota.
In the bedroom, Cassie wasn’t looking too hot. She’d just said she was going to be sick and Ald was growling at her, saying she was going to end up a drunk. She looked like she was going to cry but Kayden was quick, noticing her mood immediately and making a joke of it, telling her she was naughty. She looked over and grinned at him. Ald glanced around at Kayden and went off at him for not taking better care of her.
Jeez, he is in such a bloody bad mood. He’s acting like a … father. Wow, so that is what all this is about. My mate’s gone all daddyfied on me. Shit, he’s normally worse than I am. Now, look at him. Bloody hell, he’s going for ‘father of the year’ for sure. Conom wanted to laugh and hang it on him but the mood in the room was far from amusing. Cassie is sick, my man here is hardly standing and Ald looks ready to explode. Then the words he was dreading, that she was going to be throw up.
What am I, frigging nurse Conom? He knew Ald wouldn’t do the sick thing, even with his own kid. Vomit made him heave. I wish she would just let go right here to piss him off. I would never let him live that down. All the crap he puts up with and does to others and yet the smell of puke brings the big man to his knees.
Ald took Kayden while Conom whipped Cassie up in his arms and headed for the bathroom as her eyes began to roll back in her head. He left her on the floor with her head in the toilet bowl. Thank goodness her hair has been braided and is all tied up. Washing sick out of hair is something even I refuse to do.
He went over and splashed water over his own face to sober up a bit. How was he to look after her when he felt not much better? Is it punishment? His face looked back at him in the mirror. Yes, I’ve brought all this on myself and need to suck it up.
Cassie had flushed the loo for the third time and was curling up on the floor. Picking her up, he put her on the bed. She groaned again so it was back to the bathroom. This time he wasn’t mucking around, she had nothing left to throw up so it was time for something more drastic. He turned on the shower and put her under. He could hear Kayden call out for his princess but he would have to wait or come and help. Ald, the mongrel had long gone, probably at the first sounds of her heaving. The bloody weak mongrel. I’ll get him good for this later.
Cassie started to get some colour back in her face but her lips were turning blue and she was shaking. ‘Time to come out, sweetie,’ he said, wrapping a towel around her. The clothes she had on now were drenched. ‘I’ll hold the towel up but you have to take your wet gear off, sweetie or you’ll catch a cold.’ He leant her up against the shower wall and she grinned and started to slip down the wall. ‘Whoa, steady there, little one.’ He grabbed her just in time. ‘It looks like we’re going to have to become very familiar with each other or you will catch your death.’
She lifted up her arms so he could slip her dress over her head. Still holding her with one hand so she didn’t end up on the floor, he grabbed the towelling robe and placed it around her the best he could while she giggled and went all jelly-like on him.
‘Cass you’re a hopeless drunk. How do you manage when I’m not around?’
‘My best friend Woodsta cares for me. I love my best friend to bits. He growls at me more than you do though,’ she chuckled, leaning into him.
‘Okay, I have you decent so while I hold you, can you to wiggle out of your underwear,’ he said, unclipping her bra. ‘You can’t sleep with anything wet on, sweetie. You will end up with pneumonia.’
After a struggle, she was free of clothing. Luckily her hair stayed dry; he was no good at the whole hair-drying thing. He pulled out the scrunchie and let her hair fall out, checking it was dry. Nope, she’s good to go, he thought as he combed it through his fingers. God, even her hair feels and smells divine. She must have seen the look on his face and he flushed with embarrassment. She touched his face, her eyes glazed like she was somewhere else. Maybe I remind her of someone else.
‘I miss my Woodsta,’ she smiled. ‘You’re like my Woodsta, you know. Do you love me too?’
He picked her up. ‘Yes, Cass, I’m afraid I love you too,’ he said, thinking she wouldn’t remember jack-shit in the morning anyway so he might as well be honest. He walked her back over to the bed and pulled the covers back. After helping her in he pulled the covers over her. Kayden, out cold, felt for her and reached for her, pulling her into his arms. ‘I missed you, sweetheart,’ he said groggily, cuddling her.