Page 21 of Devil’s Torture

Dawn goes quiet and I don’t push her. Instead, I move the curtain enough to look out at the street. I’m not even a little bit surprised to find Rune across the street watching the house while leaning back on his bike.

The only surprising thing is that he hasn’t knocked and asked to talk. Maybe he’s working up the courage.

When I run my fingers through Dawn’s hair, they snag on a few tangled strands. “You can do this however you want. You can start small and take it slow. There is no rush and the only rule is I want you safe and I want you to use your voice.”

“Yeah,” there’s relief in her tone, “that’ll work for me. I’m not sure how I want to do this, but I want to try.”

“Then you try.”

Simple.

Because it is. They should have a relationship.

Dawn nods before giving me a quick hug and slipping away to her room. I’m sure she’s going to play a game or listen to music. She needs a moment and I’m more than okay with it. I could use a moment myself.

It’s only after Dawn goes to sleep and the house starts to settle into the kind of night I’ve always cherished that I look through the window again. Rune is still there, right where he was. His eyes are still fixed on the house. His arms are still crossed across his chest.

I slip on a pair of slippers and double check that I have my phone before I open the door and step out. By the time I make it down the porch steps, Rune has already crossed the street.

We stare at each other for a long time. I study his blue eyes and look for the guy he once was. It’s hard to see underneath the last ten years and everything they have done to him. But there’s a glimmer of who he was there too.

I’m not sure if it’s enough.

“Bexley,” his voice is rough.

“Rune.” His road name comes out flat.

The way he’s looking at me becomes more intense. I expect him to correct me, but he doesn’t. I’m not sure how I feel about it.

“Is Dawn asleep?” He looks toward the house with hope brimming in his eyes.

“Well, she’s in bed,” I offer.

I want to be a raving bitch to him. I want to stonewall him.

I don’t have the energy to do either.

“Look,” I start, “you can spend time with Dawn, but it’ll be a slow process.” I let out a long sigh and force myself to not let the feeling of dread drown me. She’s been just mine for so long and I’m not sure how to share her.

I’ll figure it out, but still. Being an adult and a parent is bullshit sometimes.

“I never wanted to keep you apart,” I admit, “but it’s not like I had another choice.”

“That part is on me,” his voice is low as he takes a small step closer to me.

Now that he’s close enough for me to feel the heat coming off him, I really wish I could give in just enough to get a hug from him. It’s been far too long, and I always felt safest in his arms.

But then he left.

“She’s interested in spending time with me?” He sounds surprised.

“Yeah,” I nod and swallow hard, “we talked about it tonight. She would like to get to know you.”

“That’s,” he pauses and shakes his head, his voice sounding like gravel, “I don’t deserve it.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” He blinks at me and I shrug one shoulder. “Whether you deserve it or not doesn’t matter, not to me. Dawn is a sharp kid. She’ll figure out if you’re worth her time quickly. My advice to you is to make sure she thinks you’re worth it. If you’re not, then she won’t spend time with you.”

“You’re letting her make the decision?” He doesn’t sound surprised, more like he simply wants to confirm what he already knows.