"I'm not, Cash.You're doing the most important thing anyone could do for me.You know that, right?"
"Sure I do.That's why I'm not there.And don't worry, they're fine.I stepped outside when I saw your name on my phone.We're going to watch a movie.You're going to let them stay the night, right?"
Emmett inhaled as deeply as he could, wincing at the pain in his chest."You think it's the right thing to do?"he asked eventually.
"Damn, you must have taken a knock to the head if you're asking me for parenting advice."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do.And we both know it's your call.But I think they're better off spending the night here.And I'll tell them about what happened when I'm bringing them home in the morning."
"And they're having fun, right?"
Cash chuckled.“They’re with their Uncle Cash—of course they are.They've already turned this place into a cross between a five-star resort and a resistance cell.”
Emmett smiled, leaning his head back against the pillows."What's the damage?"
"Well, I stepped out onto the porch to talk to you, but looking in through the window?It's a madhouse.Tanya's currently swimming in my old hoodie with my headlamp strapped to her head.I think she's planning a low-light reconnaissance mission on the cookie jar the second I fall asleep.She's been trying to use my signal mirror to 'talk to the forest spirits' in the tree line for the last hour, and now she won't stop pestering me to show her how to 'escape' from the heavy-duty zip-ties I keep in my gear bag.I managed to convince her that I'm not going to teach her how to pick a tumbler—yet."
Emmett let out a soft, pained huff of a laugh."Don't teach her anything that'll get me arrested, Cash."
"No promises, bud.And Alana...well, she's decided I'm a 'fixer-upper.'She didn't have her bags, so she's been raiding my first-aid kit and the guest bath for anything that resembles a 'routine' for my skin to get into.She's currently sitting at my kitchen table in one of my flannel shirts, sipping sparkling water like she's at a spa in Paris.She already gave me a lecture because I told her that diet soda’s a chemical disaster and she should be drinking full sugar like a normal person.Apparently, a man of my age should be more concerned about inflammation and insulin spikes.Unless I can somehow talk my way out of it, she’s going to give me a mani when I go back in there.She's fifteen going on forty-five, Emmett.
"They both know damn well I'll let them stay up past their bedtime and treat them a little more like adults than is wise.They love it."
Emmett smiled."They love you."
"And I love them right back.And Harper's good to keep an eye on you overnight?"
"She is.Trip's not happy about it, but...he gets it.He's just doing his job."
"Yeah.You wanna shoot me a text when you're ready for them to come home in the morning?"
"Sure, thanks, Cash.Although, how about you shootmea text when you’re on the way—use your judgment about when."
"Copy that—and I'm gonna tell them on the way, if that's all right with you."
"Yeah.But make sure the first and last thing you tell them is that I'm all right."
Cash laughed."What, because you think I don't know how to handle it?"
"I know you do.See you tomorrow, bud."
"You will.But if you need anything in the night, you tell Harper she's to call me, okay?"
"Will do.But she'll have to call Blane first.She knows she can handle you.She's not so sure about him yet."
"If we were talking about anyone else, I’d be offended.But since it's Blane, I get it."
"See you tomorrow, then."
"Yeah.See ya later.And Emmett?"
"Yeah?"
"Glad you're all right, bud."
Chapter Fourteen
