The Wanted Short Stories (Wanted 5.5)

Grace looked at me and smiled. Her light brown hair and green eyes pierced mine as she smiled at me. “Daddy, we’re making happy-birthday cards for Bandpa!”

I smiled as I nodded my head. I loved that my father was a huge part of our lives.

“What is that, Grace? A horse?”

She snapped her head up and looked at me. “What? No, Daddy! It’s a flower vase.”

I quickly glanced over to Luke, who shrugged his shoulders and smiled. I looked back down at the drawing and tried to see where in the heck she was drawing a vase.

I nodded my head. “Of course, of course. I see the vase now. I must have horses on my mind.”

Grace giggled and said, “Silly, Daddy.”

Ari walked up, kissed me on the cheek, and then moved her lips to my ear. “I totally saw a horse, too.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Dad, can I help Uncle Gunner while you’re gone?” Luke asked.

Ari sat down on my lap.

“I’ve already talked to him about it. Since you and Grace will be staying over there, Gunner said he will wake you up earlier to help with the feeding, if you’d like.”

Luke jumped up and did a fist pump. “Yes! Yes! Dad, I swear, I’m gonna learn everything, and make you and Uncle Gunner proud some day at how well I can help with things around here.”

I smiled and felt my heart growing bigger. I nodded my head. “Luke, son, you already make me proud.”

“Well, don’t be too proud of him just yet. Luke, you want to tell me about this dye you gave Alex to put in Colt’s hair last week?”

Luke slowly sat back down and gave his mother the most innocent look ever. “Mom, I’m not to blame for that. I told Alex it wouldn’t come out. She didn’t believe me. I put it on Lady, and—”

Ari jumped up. “Oh my God. Is that why her tail is green? Luke Johnson, you’d better disappear from my view right now.”

Luke stood and looked at me like I was going to help him out or something. I just smiled at him.

“I had to experiment on something, Mom, and Lady was—”

Ari snapped her fingers and pointed. “Luke, walk away, son, if you know what is good for you. Walk. Away.”

Grace started laughing, and Luke gave her a dirty look. He turned, headed out the kitchen, and ran upstairs. I looked up at Ari, and she looked pissed.

She began shaking her head as she walked toward the stove. “Your son…I swear, I have no idea where he comes up with these ideas.”

“Probably Daddy.”

I glanced down at Grace and reached out to tickle her. “Daddy, huh?”

I picked her up and began swinging her around. She laughed and yelled for me to put her down.

Ari was leaning against the island, giggling. “At least we know Grace inherited my smarts.”

I stopped and looked at Ari as Grace laughed even more. I put her down, walked up to Ari, and took her into my arms before kissing her.

“Yuck. That is so gross. I’m going to my room.”

Grace took off up the stairs as she yelled out how no other parents kissed in front of their kids.

Ari smiled at me. “I haven’t been away from them for more than two days. I’m scared.”