“First rule,” he told her. “No going outside the house without permission.”
Permission? Right. That was going too far! She leaned back to look up at him, giving him a stern look.
He was grinning. So he was joking.
Of course that wasn’t a rule. This whole thing was probably a joke to him.
And that should make her feel relieved, not sad.
Was she a joke? She hated to think so. She wanted to think better of him.
But sometimes she felt like she was the biggest joke of all.
His grin faded and he started to frown as he stared down at her. His mouth opened as though he was going to say something.
“Addie?” Dotty said suddenly and Cash’s mouth snapped shut.
She stiffened. Shoot. Why hadn’t she considered the fact that other people might be awake?
What was her sister going to think of her being carried around by Cash?
“What’s wrong? Did you hurt yourself? Are you ill?” Dotty asked.
Ah, so that’s what she thought had happened, not that she and Cash were intimately embracing or something.
That would just be stupid, right?
“She was outside in the cold,” Cash said. “Figured that wouldn’t be good for her throat. Plus, she shouldn’t be out there on her own.”
“No, she shouldn’t,” Dotty said. “What were you doing out there, Addie? What if someone saw you?”
Cash put her down on the sofa, and Addie hunched her shoulders.
It had been really stupid. And she shouldn’t be causing her sisters any more worry than they already had.
“Addie, you have to be more careful,” Dotty said. “No one knew you were out there. What if something had happened? And Cash is right about your throat. Is it still hurting?”
“I’ve already had a talk with her about going outside on her own,” Cash said firmly. “She doesn’t need to be scolded anymore.”
Addie stared up at him in amazement. She didn’t need him to stand up to her sister for her, but it made her feel good inside that he had.
Dotty gaped at him. She wasn’t used to anyone talking back like that.
“Right,” Dotty said. “Of course. Shoot. Sorry, Addie. I didn’t mean to come at you.” She glanced over at Butch who was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee.
Addie wasn’t used to her sister apologizing like that. And for a moment, she just stared at her.
“All good. I shouldn’t have gone out,” she rasped.
“Stop talking.” Cash pointed at her sternly. “Another rule, no talking until your throat stops hurting.”
Her mouth dropped open. Was he insane?
She thought the rules were just a joke, and now he was saying them in front of other people? Was he trying to embarrass her or something?
Humiliate her?
“Rules?” Dotty asked. “What rules?”
