She lobs her money, the colored paper floating to the board. “They beat my ass.”
My body goes still.
More accurately, everything in the damn room goes still.
The only sound penetrating the void is Taryn’s little gasp of air. She shifts on the couch, her gaze falling to the Switch in her hands, avoiding my gaze.
Interesting.
“Elena, you are not allowed to say that word,” Brennan scolds.
She moves uncomfortably in my lap, her little pink lips pouting. “I heard it yesterday when we were at The Honey Hut,” she whines.
I arch a brow. “Who said that?”
She cowers in my hold, her little finger pointing at the one person who instantly gave themselves away the second that word left Elena’s mouth.
Little Ghost.
Pressing my lips in a line, I hold Taryn’s wide eyes and flummoxed expression.
Goddammit, I am trying so hard not to smile.
Work was frustrating today. I expected to come home, eat dinner, and retire to my cabin early like usual. But something feels different. Tristan said more than five words, the vibrancy in his face like a punch to the gut because it’s been so long since I’ve seen it.
Little Ghost may be teaching my little sister profanity, but for the first time in a long time, this house has felt lighter.
The laughter and smiles are livelier.
And I can’t help but think she may be the reason for it.
TWENTY-SIX | TARYN
Ishift in the bed, the sheets tangling between my legs. Flipping again to my side, releasing a frustrated groan, I accept that sleep may evade me tonight.
My throat is dry, and my body apparently can’t find comfort on a mattress that feels like sleeping on a marshmallow after it’s been lightly toasted by a flame.
I miss sleeping with Rossco. I miss finding comfort in the way his body curled up at the end of the bed, warming my feet. The way I wake up in the night to soothe him when he’s whimpering, and his body lightly shakes while he’s dreaming.
I’ve gotten so used to his presence that now I don’t sleep as well as I used to with him around. I’m sure he feels the same since he sleeps outside now. Luckily, Colten got him a doghouse and a bed with plenty of room to curl up inside for the night.
Today was…awkward, hence why the tension still lingers and pulls at every cord and muscle in my body, denying me of rest.
The twins left with Jess this morning, leaving me to watch the kids by myself for the first time.
It was easy.
Painless.
Who knew spending time with a seven and five-year-old would be easier than sharing the same air with their brooding brother who showed up for dinner and didn’t bother to utter a word to me all evening?
I received a few glares.
And several scrutinizing gazes that I couldn’t dissect.
Teaching his five-year-old sister the wordassprobably has something to do with that.
Honestly, I’m surprised her little mouth doesn’t spill all sorts of other nonsense since Colten, Cameron, and Brennan are no saints.
