Caleb walked back in with some orange juice. In the same sippy cup she’d used the other day.
“Figured this might be easier than a glass.” Caleb knelt on the floor next to them and held the sippy cup up to her lips. “Take a few sips for Daddy. That’s a good girl.”
She drank some down before handing it back.
“Do you want Daddy, Wolfie, and Papa to give you a bath?” Caleb asked quietly.
Was this the best idea? Shouldn’t they be talking about what happened?
“Yes, please, Daddy,” she said.
“All right, let’s get you stripped off. Wolfe, can you test the bath? Jelly bean? Can you let go of Aleki so I can help you?”
She nodded again and Aleki laid her back on the bed. He expected her to protest as Caleb started stripping her, but she simply lay there, looking exhausted. His poor girl.
“Bath’s ready,” Wolfe said from the doorway. “We’re all going in?”
“Yeah,” Caleb replied. “She needs all of us right now.”
She was so fucking fragile it scared the shit out of him.
“You guys hop in. I’ll be back in a moment. Gotta take a p—” he glanced down at her and adjusted his language, “use the bathroom.”
“Fine,” Caleb said. “But come straight back. We’re doing this together. As a family.”
Aleki nodded. He was totally behind that. They were a family.
“Be back in a moment.”
“No!” She grasped hold of his arm. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Two minutes. I promise.” He cupped her face gently between his hands. “I love you, baby girl.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed her. Fuck. It was never enough. A minute. An hour. A day. A week. A lifetime.
It wouldn’t ever be enough.
* * *
Caleb carried her into the bathroom.
The numbness surrounding her started to fade. However, she wasn’t entirely convinced that was a good thing. That numbness was keeping her sane.
“Oh baby, you’re shaking. Please stop,” Caleb practically begged.
“Give her to me,” Wolfe stated. She looked over to find him already sitting in the enormous bathtub. He’d removed his glasses and it made him seem younger. Less intimidating. Although that could be due to the fact that he was covered in bubbles.
“Jesus, man, did you empty a whole bottle in here?” Caleb asked as he handed her down to Wolfe.
Wolfe shrugged. “It’s a big bath.”
He held her on his lap. She was facing outwards, her back against his chest. She stared at Caleb, watching him undress. Why did she feel so detached?
Then Caleb stripped off his boxers and climbed in naked. A flush of heat ran through her body. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t totally detached.
Caleb sat across from them. “Come here.”