Sweet Dreams 2(120)

I somehow managed to swallow and smile at the same time even while fighting back tears.

“Tate –”

“You gonna help me have sweet dreams again, baby?” he asked softly.

“I’ll try,” I answered.

“It’s fresh and it ain’t gettin’ any less fresh,” he shared.

“We’ll settle,” I promised him.

He didn’t look like he believed me and I’d know why when he spoke again.

“That hour, Lauren, that hour he had you, that’s an hour I’ll never forget in my whole fuckin’ life.”

My hands came up to frame his face. “I’ll help you.”

“I know you’ll try but I’m tellin’ you, I’ll never forget it, not in my life.”

“Baby, don’t let him do that to you.”

“He took your hair, he took your blood and that’s what he took from me.”

“My hair will grow back and my wound will heal,” I told him. “And we’ll get back what he took from you, Captain. I swear, we’ll get it back.”

“Ace –”

“You gave me sweet dreams, Tate, now I get to return the favor.”

Tate stared at me and I held his handsome face in my hands as I stared back.

Then he whispered, “Love you, Ace.”

“Love you too, Captain.”

He touched his lips to mine then he ran his nose along mine then he pulled away and went to his son.

I looked to the TV and then grabbed the remote to switch channels. On my third press of the button, I saw Tate’s picture on another halftime show and I hit the button to turn off mute.

Then I turned the volume down so Tate wouldn’t hear as I listened to the commentators bragging about my old man.