CHAPTER ONE
Cormac
“Pweeeeasssseee Uncle C! Please! Please! Please!”Savannah or Savvy for short, my adorable eight-year-old niece, begged, her tiny hands clasped together. Her face was impossible to say no to, her toothless grin the cutest thing I’ve seen all day.
“I’ve gotten a lot better. Mommy took me the other day, and I only fell twice!” Savvy explained animatedly, her ringlet curls bouncing.
“Twice?” I winced. “That’s two too many. How about we go catch a movie instead?”
“No!” Savvy whined while crossing her arms and stomping her feet. “That’s boring! I want to go ice skating! With my friends!”
I didn’t want to say no, but the thought of my niece falling and cracking her skull open on the ice terrified me. Maybe I saw too much in the past, or maybe I was being a wimp, but I’d much rather do something that didn’t involve getting hurt. “What if we go pig out on a bunch of pizza and ice cream?”
“I’m not hungry.” She puffed out her bottom lip, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I caved.
“Okay, go get your skates.”
“Yay! Thank you!” Savvy jumped up and down. She wrapped her small arms around my neck and hugged me tight. “I love you, Uncle C.”
I laughed. Oh, kids. As soon as they get their way, they love you to death. I had a special place in my heart for Savannah. My sister struggled through her pregnancy, with Savannah’s father leaving her high and dry, so when Savvy was born, we all pitched in and helped. I loved her as if she were mine own. We all did. “I love you too, Savvy.”
While I waited for her to get her skates, my sister, Karen, walked into the living room and offered me a cup of coffee, which I gladly accepted. “Savvy convinced you, huh?”
“Yep. You heard?” I asked before sipping my coffee. Mmm, perfect, like she always made it.
Karen nodded, smiling over the rim of her mug. “She’s good at getting what she wants, that’s for sure.”
“Well, how can anyone say no to her adorable face?”
Karen smirked. “I can. When it’s been three cups of water, two bathroom trips, and ten goodnights, I’ve had it.”
“Savvy wouldn’t do that.” I grinned, knowing she most definitely would. She fought sleep the moment she ejected herself into the world, and bedtime would often be a disaster, never mind naps.
Karen side-eyed me, a look of irritation on her face.
“I’m proud of you, Sis. Handling your business, keeping yourself afloat, and being a good mom to Savvy, you’re doing great.”
Karen’s expression softened. “Thanks, little bro. I appreciate it. It hasn’t been easy.”
“I know.”
“You know more than anyone else. I’m proud of you too, C. I hated seeing you struggle when you got out.”
I sighed. “You and me both.”
“Are you getting out more? Not counting work.”
“I guess.” I shrugged her off. I liked being a loner. Spending my evenings relaxing was my favorite way to relax. Especially after a long day at the hospital, where I was head of security. Unruly patients were becoming more and more common, and sometimes, they were a doozy.
“I heard they were doing speed dating at the bar, The Mixer. You should check it out.”
“Speed dating?” I made a face. “No thanks.”
My sister laughed. “You never know, it could be fun.”
Savvy ran into the room holding her ice-skating bag, ultimately saving me from this conversation. “I’m ready!”
Good. I didn’t want to talk about my past. Not now. Not when I’m only now learning how to ignore it.
