“I know this.” And yeah, I saw how Colby appreciated my looks, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to automatically be on board.
This is going to be tricky.
“You’re going to have to tell him. Explain all of this before you drag him down the aisle.”
And that is enough to put me on edge.
Bran knows, somehow, where all of this is going. Where my mind and... heart—God help me—want this to end.
5
COLBY
“I just told you why, Duffy. Don’t play dumb.” Rory’s hushed words slowly bring me out of sleep.
“I’m just surprised.” Duffy’s whiny protest makes me open my eyes even though I don’t want to.
“What’s a surprise?” I ask, my voice croaky from who knows how many hours of sleep. All the bruising and surgery and whatnot has really taken a toll on me. As I shift, I feel nauseous for a moment, and it’s another reminder that I’m not back to a hundred percent even though I can stay awake now for at least half an hour. It didn’t even take me an hour, I think, to drop into sleep after Eian left.
I look over and see the crib is empty. That’s where I put Maggie when Rory came back into the room to sit by Duffy’s bed. After that very confusing conversation withEian I needed some time with her, but I made myself put her down when she fell asleep.
Now I find her yet a-fucking-gain, in Rory’s arms, still sleeping.
“Rory,” I groan, not lucid enough to tamp down my annoyance. “If you keep carrying her while she’s asleep, she’s gonna get used to that and only fall asleep when someone’s holding her.”
“So what?” Rory demands, her scary-as-fuck frown aimed at me, but it disappears into a blank stare that I guess is a good thing when she looks back down at Maggie’s pretty face.
“Babies calm Rory down,” Duffy explains, in the most sensible tone I’ve ever heard from someone saying something so utterly ridiculous.
Babies calm the psycho down? Really? That’s great. It really fills me with confidence.
Not.
Or well... if I’m honest, I’m no longer worried about Maggie being in her arms. It’s clear Rory’s fond of her, and as long as she stays in my line of sight, I’m not going to get pissy again.
I do have to give it to Duffy, though, he looks surprisingly fresh after having god-knows-what injected into him by his boss. I know it’s more than a little ridiculous of me tonot even want to think his name, but I’m giving myself a break.
“That’s concerning,” I mutter, doing my hardest to remain calm. “Why does she need to calm down right now? Everyone’s safe and sound. Come on,” I beg, looking at Rory again. “You’re just going to make my life harder when I eventually have to go back to work.”
A strange cough slash groan slash choking sound leaves Duffy, and I look at him, worried. He shakes his head and waves a hand around like nothing’s wrong even though he’s still fucking coughing.
“I’m sure you’re mistaken,” Rory tells me with that same blank stare.
“God.” I let my head fall back against the pillow, and though my stomach protests, I look up at the blank ceiling wondering how I got here—I know exactly how I got here. “I need coffee before I even attempt to have a rational conversation with either of you.”
“I’ll go get you some,” Rory says, sounding almost... excited? She’s moving over to the crib, gently laying Maggie down, and out of the room before I can figure out what to say.
“How’d you sleep?” Duffy speaks before I can ask him why his sister is suddenly so accommodating. His tone is way too chirpy for my current state. “You looked like it was a good one.”
“A good one?” I ask in a mumble, almost only talking to myself. But that reminds me. “What’s the thing that surprised you?”
“Huh?” his head tilts to one side in that confused-puppy look, but I can tell he’s trying to play dumb, just like his sister said before.
“You woke me up just minutes ago whining about something surprising you.” I don’t know what it could be that he’s making such a production about not telling me.
“Why are you in such a hurry to get back to work?” he’s totally avoiding the question. “And do you mean work for me or somewhere else? If you need more money, I can?—”
“Why won’t you answer the question?” I demand.
