Stay in check. Don’t lash out. Don’t burden them…
I’ve ruined one life; I don’t need to ruin more.
My brother never would have suffered all these years if it weren’t for his need to protect me. The little brother, the one who couldn’t fight, was too weak to stand up for himself.
“We should hire someone,” Savannah continues, the baby monitor in one hand, “Someone who can help you but teach you, as well. This is new; you didn’t expect this to happen, and this stress, it’s completely normal.”
“What are you?” I snap at her, “My therapist?”
“Watch it,” My brother immediately comes between us, shielding Savannah from me.
“You don’t have a therapist,” Savannah peers around him, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Maybe you should get one.”
A joke. She’s joking, trying to lighten the tension thrumming through the room.
“What did you say?” I let out a heavy breath, “Before?”
“Hiring someone?” Savannah lifts her brows.
“Yeah.”
“Is that something you think you can do?” Killian inputs.
“I don’t think I have much choice.” I grumble.
“I think I know just the right person,” Savannah runs her finger across her lip. “Let me speak to them, I think we can figure this out. How much are you willing to pay?”
“Whatever the fuck they want,” My shoulders sag.
“Perfect,” Savvy grins, “Leave it with me, I’ll have an answer by tomorrow.”
I’m not sure if I should be worried or not by the way she’s giddy about this whole thing.
The two of them end up spending the night, taking the only spare room I have in this townhouse. I avoided large houses when I chose this place because large houses reminded me too much of my childhood home, with its long, labyrinthine halls and echoing screams that seemed trapped within the walls.
I always disliked not being able to pinpoint where the sound was coming from in such a large space. By the time you reached the source, it was already too late to change anything.
I check on Lily before I head to bed, knowing I’m going to lie there until close to dawn, only to do it all again when tomorrow comes.
Chapter Four
“Absolutely not,” My coffee cup pauses halfway to my mouth, Savannah’s request rolling over in my mind, “Are you insane!?”
Savannah puts the straw of her iced coffee in her mouth, fluttering her lashes.
“Stop it,” I grumble at her.
“You love babies.” She leans back, “He needs help.”
“Why can’t you find someone else?”
“Because I know Dean,” Savannah sighs, “He won’t hire anyone, especially someone he doesn’t know.”
“He doesn’t know me,” I point out.
“No,” She agrees, cocking a brow, “But I do, and he trusts me.”
“Did you miss the part where we don’t like each other?” I glance out the window for the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes, scanning the faces I see beyond the glass. A habit I can’t shake.
