Days In (Parrish&Darius #2)

Day 4

Kody's first week of preschool was a success that I would've never have foreseen. Granted, he eats alone in a closet, and refuses to nap with the other kids but he doesn't cry when we leave him at school in the morning and I take that as a win.

He was still refusing to be in the same room as Parrish for more than twenty minutes but I wasn't too worried about that anymore. When I went to pick him up, Kody was standing still by the playground gates as always when I went to pick him up. He still doesn't talk to anyone as far as I'm concerned. I took in a deep breath before heading inside.

"Hey, Collins, how are you?" I greeted the fox omega at the reception and he smiled back at me brightly.

"Hi, mister Miller, I'm great, thanks for asking." He handed me the usual paperwork and I signed it. Collin got used to me, I think.

He doesn't flinch when I come through the door. I want to think that he realized that I'm not dangerous after he saw me with Kody, but it was probably the cupcakes I brought him that did the trick. Him calling me Miller was just a little reward I earned myself, after I mentioned once that I didn't like my last name.

"How was my cub today?"

"Kody was... very quiet as always." He played with the strings of his hoodie nervously and I started to wonder why he wasn't getting up to bring me my cub when I noticed that he was eyeing the bag of cookies I was holding.

"Ah, sorry, here you go. Freshly baked, coconut cookies, for my favorite teacher." I handed him the cookie bag and I saw his eyes go bright blue.

This is how you win over people. You give them food goodies until they forget why they don't like you.

"Thank you!" He grabbed them with a hungry look on his face and hid them in his bag.

"Remember to share those, Collins." I snorted.

"Uh? Yeah, sure, I will." He nodded dismissively, making sure that the bag was well hidden.

He won't.

"Collins." I said, when he sat back straight on the chair, still not getting up to get Kody.

"Yes, mister Miller?" He smiled.

"Do you think I can have my cub now?" I smiled back, leaning over the counter.

"Yes! Sorry, I'll go get him now!"

The truth is that I kept bringing Collins cookies because I was scared he would not give me back my son if I didn't. Granted, it was an unfounded fear, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. He came back with Kody who, as always, sprinted to latch onto my leg like he hadn't seen me in years.

"Ma." He made grabby hands at me to get me to pick him up.

Instead of picking him up I stared into his big brown eyes, "why don't you walk a little for a change?"

"No." The response was almost immediate and he glared at me for having the gall to suggest something like that.

"Okay, but you will have to walk eventually. I won't be able to carry you forever, you know?"

He nuzzled into my neck when I picked him up.

Yeah, I don't think he cares about that right now.

We got in the car and I started driving. Kody got suspicious when instead of taking a turn right to go home I took a left.

"Not going home?" He asked, staring at me through the rearview mirror.

"No, honey we're not going home. We're going to see Dave today, remember?" I said, casually.

He frowned.