“I think he’s angry that Dad went over there to begin with. Like Dad chose a bunch of strangers over us.” I hesitated, then said, “I think Connor feels like our father abandoned us.”
Teagan leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms. “What about you? How do you feel about it?”
I stared at the ceiling and shrugged. “I think he was doing his job. He was trying to keep people safe. That’s what soldiers do.” I bit my lip and gave Teagan a weak smile. “Doesn’t change the fact that I miss him.”
He picked up a bead necklace that Penny had won at a fair and given to me. When Teagan shook his head and returned it to its place, I said, “It was a gift from Penny. It’s awful, I know,” I giggled.
He smirked. “Thank God. I was concerned about your taste there for a second.”
My taste was just fine, thank you very much, and he was proof. He was the complete package—sweet, caring, considerate…his questions told me that.
My smile faded. “Hey, Teagan?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.” It was quiet, but it was heartfelt.
He frowned. “What for?”
“No one’s ever asked me how I felt about my dad.” My eyes started filling up with tears. He straightened and moved until he stood beside the bed, beside me. I pushed myself up until my back rested against my headboard, then gestured for him to sit next to me.
He glanced at the cracked door and then sat next to me. He rubbed the back of his neck and heaved a deep breath. “I get it, you know—not having him around. I understand.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
He dropped his hand and gave a slight shrug. “My mom left when I was fourteen.”
My jaw dropped. “What? Why?”
His expression darkened, and he shook his head. “That’s a story for a different time. Woke up one morning and she was gone. She didn’t even take my baby sister with her. She was three at the time.” Voice thick with bitterness, Teagan added, “My other sister and I pretty much raised her. Dad was always working.”
So that’s what he meant yesterday, about being a big brother too much. I took his hand, startling both of us, but didn’t let go. His gaze snapped to mine, searching, and I found myself lost in the dark tempest raging in his eyes. Warmth crawled up my spine as his thumb stroked the back of my hand, and my face heated up when his eyes dropped to my lips.
I suddenly heard a throat being cleared.
I almost jumped out of my skin, and Teagan almost fell off the bed. My eyes shot to the doorway, and I exhaled in relief. It was just Penny.
With a mischievous look on her face, she said, “And just what are you two doing?”
I shot her a warning look, but she just rolled her eyes before stepping into the room. Teagan ran a hand through his hair, giving a nervous smirk. As confident as he always was, it was strange how rattled he seemed. He looked around the room, not making eye contact with either of us. “I need to take Zver for a walk,” he said suddenly.
The dog startled and sat up at his name. Teagan gave me a quick smile, which had me blushing. Then he led Zver out of the room. Penny gave him a knowing look as he passed her, and he picked up the pace as he exited. Penny turned and zeroed in on me. Oh, hell no! I held up a hand. “Just…don’t. Okay? Don’t,” I told her firmly. She opened her mouth again, but I leveled her with a look. “It’s between me and him.”
She held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, no problem. But Ash, all jokes aside, you need to try this one out. He seems like a great guy.” Her voice was sincere, and I smiled at the bedspread.
“Yeah, he kinda is, isn’t he?” I said softly. Then I remembered the time. “Now. Get the hell out, Pen. I’m going back to sleep.” I slid back under my covers. Just as I was settled, Penny spoke again.
“By the way, Ash?—I love you. You’re like the sister I never had—but next time, I urge you to tame the Medusa hair before you entertain Teeg.”
Oh.
Teagan leaned against the dresser, crossing his arms. “What about you? How do you feel about it?”
I stared at the ceiling and shrugged. “I think he was doing his job. He was trying to keep people safe. That’s what soldiers do.” I bit my lip and gave Teagan a weak smile. “Doesn’t change the fact that I miss him.”
He picked up a bead necklace that Penny had won at a fair and given to me. When Teagan shook his head and returned it to its place, I said, “It was a gift from Penny. It’s awful, I know,” I giggled.
He smirked. “Thank God. I was concerned about your taste there for a second.”
My taste was just fine, thank you very much, and he was proof. He was the complete package—sweet, caring, considerate…his questions told me that.
My smile faded. “Hey, Teagan?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.” It was quiet, but it was heartfelt.
He frowned. “What for?”
“No one’s ever asked me how I felt about my dad.” My eyes started filling up with tears. He straightened and moved until he stood beside the bed, beside me. I pushed myself up until my back rested against my headboard, then gestured for him to sit next to me.
He glanced at the cracked door and then sat next to me. He rubbed the back of his neck and heaved a deep breath. “I get it, you know—not having him around. I understand.”
My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
He dropped his hand and gave a slight shrug. “My mom left when I was fourteen.”
My jaw dropped. “What? Why?”
His expression darkened, and he shook his head. “That’s a story for a different time. Woke up one morning and she was gone. She didn’t even take my baby sister with her. She was three at the time.” Voice thick with bitterness, Teagan added, “My other sister and I pretty much raised her. Dad was always working.”
So that’s what he meant yesterday, about being a big brother too much. I took his hand, startling both of us, but didn’t let go. His gaze snapped to mine, searching, and I found myself lost in the dark tempest raging in his eyes. Warmth crawled up my spine as his thumb stroked the back of my hand, and my face heated up when his eyes dropped to my lips.
I suddenly heard a throat being cleared.
I almost jumped out of my skin, and Teagan almost fell off the bed. My eyes shot to the doorway, and I exhaled in relief. It was just Penny.
With a mischievous look on her face, she said, “And just what are you two doing?”
I shot her a warning look, but she just rolled her eyes before stepping into the room. Teagan ran a hand through his hair, giving a nervous smirk. As confident as he always was, it was strange how rattled he seemed. He looked around the room, not making eye contact with either of us. “I need to take Zver for a walk,” he said suddenly.
The dog startled and sat up at his name. Teagan gave me a quick smile, which had me blushing. Then he led Zver out of the room. Penny gave him a knowing look as he passed her, and he picked up the pace as he exited. Penny turned and zeroed in on me. Oh, hell no! I held up a hand. “Just…don’t. Okay? Don’t,” I told her firmly. She opened her mouth again, but I leveled her with a look. “It’s between me and him.”
She held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, no problem. But Ash, all jokes aside, you need to try this one out. He seems like a great guy.” Her voice was sincere, and I smiled at the bedspread.
“Yeah, he kinda is, isn’t he?” I said softly. Then I remembered the time. “Now. Get the hell out, Pen. I’m going back to sleep.” I slid back under my covers. Just as I was settled, Penny spoke again.
“By the way, Ash?—I love you. You’re like the sister I never had—but next time, I urge you to tame the Medusa hair before you entertain Teeg.”
Oh.
Similar Books
