After dinner, Hudson claimed he had papers to grade—and for all Grant knew, he really did—so Reagan could spend time with her brother. They curled up on the white leather couch that Grant secretly hated, and it felt something like old times. Reagan picked a travel show, and they watched the host explore an island and its ruins. It was easier to pretend she was still just his little baby sister that he was the sole caretaker of in moments like that. He wondered if he would ever get used to the idea that she was still his responsibility, but that she had other people to rely on and didn’t need him very much.
“I miss you,” she said during a commercial break.
It was as if she knew what he needed to hear. “I miss you, too, baby girl.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and didn’t say anything else.
In the morning, Grant was worried about getting up too soon and disturbing either of them. He was used to being up at half-past five, and Reagan used to get up with him once upon a time. That was when she had to attend the high school and couldn’t sleep in, but now he had no way of knowing when she rose. Finally, he decided to get up and get a shower in before anyone else was awake.
He showered quickly and got dressed in the bathroom. He let out a bunch of steam when he opened the door, but then he froze. He could hear his sister and her boyfriend through their mostly closed bedroom door.
“No, Reagan, absolutely not while Grant is here.”
“Come on, he won’t know.” He didn’t like the pouty tone to her voice.
Grant tiptoed down the hall, but he stopped to hear Hudson’s response.
“Yes, he would, and I value my balls. I’m going to get up and make breakfast.”
“You’re going to owe me!”
Grant was in his own room with the door closed before he could be found out. Hudson was right about one thing; he would gladly cut off the man’s balls for having sex with his sister while he was there.
Hudson was in the middle of frying eggs when Grant entered the kitchen. He made a beeline for the coffee pot and was glad there were a few mugs sitting in front of it. He poured a mug full and drank half of it before he turned to Hudson, who was watching him warily.
“You should probably add closing your door all the way to your list of things to adhere to while I’m here, along with what you plan on abstaining from in my presence.”
With that, he walked into the living room and sat on the couch with his coffee.
