One Big Cliché

Chapter 20

Dustin

          I tugged out her ponytail after she fell asleep, my hand gently smoothing down her hair. I don't know if I'm trying to soothe her as she dreams, of if I'm trying to soothe myself as I pretend that I'm not on the verge of throwing something. She's snoring softly from her stuffed nose, but it doesn't annoy me. It's cute, actually. It makes me smirk as I watch the little girl that she used to be get her first loose tooth pulled. Her mom's holding the camera now, zooming into Nicole's scrunched face, her mouth wide open as she braces for her dad to grip the tooth.

         Her dad stops just before his finger and thumb can go into her mouth, "Are you ready?"

          She relaxes her face enough to open an eye at him. A second passes and she relaxes completely, bored and slouching. "Dad. I've been ready since this stupid thing started wiggling. Hurry up already."

           And as she scrunches her face up and opens her mouth again, her dad laughs, shaking his head. "Alright, Bug. One... two... three!"

          The door handle jiggles, pulling my attention toward the foyer before I can see him pull the tooth. After a few seconds a key enters the lock, and the door opens. I look down at Nicole and continue running my hand down her hair, hoping she doesn't wake up; she looks so much more peaceful as she sleeps. I glance back up in time to see her dad come into the living room, startling when he sees me.

          "She's sleeping," I whisper, just loud enough for him to hear. Lyndsay comes into view then, but I ignore her, my eyes falling back to Nicole.

          Her dad tells Lyndsay to go on to bed and then quietly steps over to the couch, crouching down in front of Nicole. It's too dark for him to make out the barely noticeable welt on her cheek, but he sees everything else. "Was she crying?"

          "Yeah," I murmur. "She had a long day."

          "What happened to her lip?" His eyes meet mine, worried and confused.

          I stare at the small cut, "I don't know, really. You can ask her tomorrow."

          There's a protective glint in his eyes, and I know he's probably upset about seeing his little girl hurt and wants answers now, but he looks back down at her and sighs in resignation. "Alright. I'm going to get her to bed. Thank you for staying with her."

          "Yeah," I mumble, moving my arms from around her so he can lift her into his. It's a little awkward, and I almost offer to help, but something tells me that wouldn't be such a good idea.

          He stands with a small grunt but carries her easily enough, giving me a last look. "Can you see yourself out?"

          There's no malice in his voice, just the exhaustion that comes with being the father of a teenage girl. At least I'm assuming. I'm neither a teenage girl nor have my dad around enough to hear that kind of weariness. I nod, walking away. It's not my place to try and stay with her. I know that, but it bothers me anyway. I wish I didn't have a game today, so that I could have come sooner, or I don't know, anything really. The thought of leaving her alone aggravates me; what if she wakes up in the middle of the night scared, or she just wants the company? I'll come over tomorrow. I have to. There's no way I can just leave her after she went through that, even if I know she's going to want to pretend it's all okay and put on a brave face. The same way she always does with Donavin.

          Before I leave, I hear Nicole's soft confused voice as she whispers, "Dad?"

          "Shh, bug. Go back to sleep."