“That’s not up for discussion.”
“Micha!”
“Fine. You’re twenty-five. I respect that. Kind of. Not really. You’re still my baby sister and should be a virgin until marriage or death. But I won’t have to worry about that because Aston will be there, and he’ll be my chastity policeman for you on my behalf.”
“Micha!”
“Stop saying my name like that. Come on, Sky. Aston will be doing his single-dad doctor thing, and you’ll be doing your single-girl nursing thing. You’ll hardly overlap. It’s not good to live in such a big place by yourself. It’ll make me feel better to know you’re not living there alone.”
“You didn’t even remember I was living here.”
“That’s because I work sixteen-hour shifts in ridiculous conditions, and some days I barely remember my name, let alone what a hot shower feels like. I messed up. But this could be beneficial for everyone. What do you care if Aston and his daughter live there with you?”
Um, how about a lot? I care a lot. But hell, I can’t say that now, can I? He thinks Aston and I are indifferent or simply prickly toward each other because that’s exactly what we’re supposed to be and always have been since I accidentally threw up on him and he treated me like a brat.
“I’m sure he won’t be an asshole. In fact, I’ll tell him not to be. It’ll be good for Zoey to have another female around. She just lost her mother.”
I can’t live with Aston, but what freaking choice do I have short of moving out today, which isn’t exactly possible? And what would be my excuse for running out so fast, especially when he’s asking me to be there for a little girl who just lost hermother? Maybe I’m the one making too big a deal out of the kiss. It was two years ago, and he didn’t seem flustered by it. Not the least bit rattled. To him, it was a mistake and nothing more.
And last night when he came over to the table, he teased me for a few minutes, chatted with the guys, then excused himself and left. That was that. It wasn’t a thing. I’m the one making it so.
“Micha…”
“Please. For me,” he begs. “Aston is a single dad. It’s a lot. Zoey is five and living in a new city where she has no friends. They need you. You’re a pediatric nurse. This is what you do. You help kids in need.”
“You’re hitting below the belt.”
“Actually, I’m hitting your ooey, gooey, soft, sweet-as-spun-sugar heart. Do this for me. Do this for Zoey.”
I clench my jaw and close my eyes. “I hate you.”
“You’re the best. I love you. Put Aston back on the phone.”
With a blustery sigh, I head back over to him. Zoey is doing small twirls, so the bottom of her dress flares out, using Aston’s hand above her head to guide her along. I used to do those with Micha when I was little. Micha—and Aston—are ten years older than me. I liked having an older brother. I still do. Even when he’s acting a bit too overprotective.
“Micha wants to talk to you. Zoey and I can hang out if you want privacy.” I hand him back his phone, and without a response, he storms into the kitchen.
“I don’t think Daddy is happy you live here,” Zoey tells me in that blunt way kids are.
“Tough noogies on him.”
She scrunches her nose, not fully understanding.
“Would it be weird for you if I lived here too? At least for a little while.”
She shrugs. “Will you sleep in my room or play with my toys?”
I try to hold in my smile. “Nope. Not unless you have really awesome toys and tell me I can play with them first.”
She juts her hip out. “Then I’m cool with it.”
“You’re kind of a sassy pants, aren’t you?”
“Daddy says I have the mouth of a troublemaker.”
Now there’s no holding back my smile. “I do too. I think we’ll be fast friends.”
“How come you don’t like Daddy?”
