J & Madison Bonus Scene - Willow's First Ride

Willow’s First Big-Girl Ride

Timeline: Willow is 4, Jewel is 2

Madison’s POV

“Daddy, I’m ready!” Willow bounces beside her bike, her long dark hair braided back the way J likes it. “Take the baby wheels off now!”

J glances at me, and I see the mix of pride and protectiveness in his blue eyes. He’s been talking about this moment since the day he brought home her first bike, but now that it’s here, I can tell he’s as nervous as I am.

“You sure about this, baby girl?” He crouches down beside her. “No shame in keeping the training wheels a bit longer.”

She puts her hands on her hips in a move that’s pure attitude. God help us when she’s a teenager. “I’m a big girl now. Please, Daddy?”

He chuckles and ruffles her hair. “Okay, angel. Let me grab my tools.”

While J removes the training wheels, I settle on a chair in our front yard with Jewel in my lap. Our younger daughter squirms, desperate to be wherever her big sister is. “Soon, baby,” I tell her. “When you’re bigger like Willow.”

“Ready for your first big-girl ride?” J asks Willow once he’s finished.

She nods, suddenly looking less certain now that the moment is here.

“Hey.” J tips her chin up. “I’ve got you. Trust me?”

Our daughter gives her father the smile that says she trusts him with her life. “Yes.”

My heart squeezes. The way our girls look at J like he personally hung the moon and stars gets me every time.

J helps Willow onto her bike and positions himself behind her, his hands steady on her ribcage. “Remember what we practiced?”

“Eyes forward, pedal strong, trust the bike,” she recites.

“That’s my girl.” He kisses the top of her head. “Ready?”

She grips the handlebars tight and nods.

“Start pedalling. I won’t let go until you say.”

Willow pushes off, wobbly at first but finding her rhythm. J jogs beside her, his hands still supporting her.

“You’re doing it!” I call out. “Look at you go!”

Her face lights up with pride. “Let go, Daddy! I can do it!”

J hesitates for just a moment before slowly releasing his hold. Willow stays upright, pedalling down our driveway with growing confidence.

And then it happens.

She turns too sharp, overcorrects, and goes down hard.

J reaches her before the first cry leaves her mouth. He scoops her up, checking her scraped knee and elbow while she sobs into his chest.

“I’ve got you, baby girl.” His voice is so gentle it brings tears to my eyes. “You’re okay. Just a little scratch.”

“I f-failed,” she hiccups.

“Hey, no.” He pulls back to look at her. “You didn’t fail. You know what this is? This is your first war wound. Every rider gets them.” He traces the scar on his forearm. “See this? Got it the first time I rode without training wheels too.”

Her crying slows as she touches his scar with wonder. “Really?”

“Really. And you know what I did?”

She shakes her head.

“Got right back on and tried again. Because that’s what Reillys do. We never quit.”

Willow’s chin lifts with determination. “Can I try again?”

The pride in J’s eyes is everything. “That’s my brave girl.” He kisses her forehead. “Let’s clean you up first though.”

After we get her patched up with Wonder Woman band-aids, she’s back on her bike. This time when J lets go, she stays upright, making it all the way to the end of the driveway and back.

“Mummy! Did you see?” She runs to me once she’s done. “I did it!”

I hug her tight. “You were amazing. So brave getting back on.”

“Just like Daddy taught me!”

J comes up behind her and swings her into his arms. “Ice cream to celebrate?”

“Yes!” Both girls squeal in unison.

Twenty minutes later, we’re all settled on the back deck with ice cream cones. J has Jewel in his lap, carefully helping her eat without wearing most of it, while Willow chatters about all the places she’s going to ride her bike now.

“I’m proud of you,” I tell her. “For being so brave after your fall.”

She beams at me. “Daddy says being brave doesn’t mean not being scared. It means doing it anyway.”

I meet J’s eyes over our daughters’ heads. The love I see there steals my breath.

“Your daddy’s a smart man,” I say softly.

He gives me that sexy smirk I love. “Don’t sound so surprised, babe.”

“Oh, I’m not surprised. Just remembering all the times you tried to be smart with me and I didn’t listen.”

His eyes darken with heat. “Yeah? Like when?”

I gesture to our sticky, ice-cream-covered girls. “If I’ve still got energy after we get these two cleaned up and in bed, I’ll tell you.”

“Yeah, you will.” The promise in his gaze sends shivers down my spine.

Later, after baths and bedtime stories, I find J in our bedroom.

“Now,” he says, pulling me to him. “Tell me about all those times you didn’t listen to me.”

I curl my fingers into his shirt. “Well, there was that time the other week when you told me not to touch your bike . . .”

His hands slide to my ass. “If I remember right, you did more than just touch it.”

“Mmm. I might have sat on it. In that short skirt you love.”

He groans and captures my mouth in a hard kiss. When he finally lets me go, we’re both breathing heavy.

“God, I love you,” I whisper, running my hands over his chest. “Watching you with our girls today . . . you’re such an amazing father, J.”

His eyes soften. “Yeah?”

I nod. “The way you handled Willow’s fall? So patient and loving, knowing exactly what to say to help her.” I trace the scar on his arm that he showed her. “And that story about your first bike ride . . .”

He grins. “Complete bullshit. You know I got that one in a bar fight when I was twenty.”

I smile. “I know. But it was exactly what she needed to hear.” I press closer to him. “You’re everything to those girls. To me.”

“You three are my whole fucking world.” He cups my face. “And any other kids we make along the way.”

I brush my lips against his. “Speaking of making kids . . .”

His hands slide under my shirt. “You got something in mind, baby?”

“I might.” I grind myself against him as I curl my hands around his neck. “And it’s going to start with me sitting on your face.”

“Fuck.” His growl sets my body on fire. “You know I fucking live for your pussy, Madison. Get your ass on our bed, now.”

Some things never change.

And I wouldn’t want them to.

>> I loved being back with J & Madison, my very first couple, and seeing them as parents. Especially J. Swoon!

J & Madison are from my book, Storm, which you can find here.

Storm by Nina Levine