silent

63

• AMALIA •

I'm more tired than usual when I wake up. My dad is still beside me, protective arms wrapped around me. I try to scoot away, but he's holding me too tightly.

     I sigh and lean back, resting my head on his shoulder. He puts his hand on the back of my head like he did yesterday, cradling me. I snuggle into him, sorrowful to find a small burst of pain in my abdomen.

     My dad lets go for a moment, and I go to roll away, however he wraps his arms around me again, resting his chin atop my head as he holds me. Then he moves me to his other side, flipping me over him with ease as though I'm as light as a teddy bear.

     I frown.

     "Dad." I whine. "You're holding onto me too tightly. I can't move."

     "Shh." He whispers, kissing my cheek.

     "I'm squashed."

     "Aw." He mumbles, going right back to sleep. I look down at the duvet, catching a glimpse of my bandaged hand and cringing slightly. Undoubtedly, Elijah will continue to get an answer out of me for the questions he was asking repeatedly yesterday. Or today, I suppose, since it was like 2a.m.

     "Dad."

     He opens an eye and looks down at me. "Hm?"

     "I'm squashed."

     He sighs and loosens his grip the tiniest bit, allowing me to wiggle around. He's about to fall asleep again when I speak.

     "Lorenzo." I say.

     He opens his eyes and arches an eyebrow at me. I giggle.

     "Go back to sleep." He says quietly, a small spot of lazy amusement lining his tone.

     I sigh. I guess Mason was accurate—I am like a teddy bear. My dad tucks me closer to him, resting his cheek in my hair. I snuggle into his shoulder; I might as well get comfy.

•

My dad finally wakes up about half an hour later, unwrapping his arms from around me and finally giving me space to breathe. When he sits up and smiles at me, I glare daggers at him.

     His lips knock up into an amused smile. "What's wrong?"

     "You squeezed me." I say.

     "Oh," his smile widens, "I'm sorry, baby."

     "No you're not." I frown.

     He laughs. I scowl. "It's not funny."

     "I know that." He says.

     "Then why are you laughing?"

     "Because you're just so cute." He replies, pinching my cheek.

     My scowl deepens as I push his hand away. He chuckles again, sitting up and wrapping an arm around me before planting a kiss on my temple.

     "How are you feeling?"

     "Annoyed."

     He laughs again, but it dies when he sees the bandage wrapped around my hand.

"Is your hand feeling okay?" He asks me, voice soft.

"It's fine." I say. "Can we get McDonalds?"

     "Maybe." He replies, "we'll see."

     I frown. "Please?"

     Giving him the best puppy dog eyes I can muster, I look up at him, hope filling my expression. His eyebrows raise a little bit, but then he sighs. "Okay, fine. I'll go soon."