Page 39 of Only for Love
He’s been even more protective since we all heard about Grayson. It’s weird. When Ryan found out I was pregnant, I thought he would be sick, then I was scared he would kill Gray and his chances at the police academy. But eventually Ryan calmed down, in a very protective kind of way. Grayson was a name not to be mentioned around Ryan, but now that it’s back in circulation, thanks to county gossip, the protective claws are back.
“No, sweetie. It’s me who owes everyone,” I say.
He huffs, sounding frustrated in my ear. “Please sign the lease. We’ll take care of the move.”
“I can’t.”
“Dammit, Emma. Just say yes.”
Whoa. “Easy there.”
“You’re my baby sister. This is… just something I have to help you do.”
I hate the baby sister argument. “We’re almost the same age.”
“I’m responsible for you.”
This again. God love him. “No. You’re not. But I’ll talk to Dad, okay? See what I can do. Deal?”
“One day we’ll all be on the same page.” He sighs. “Kiss Cally for me.”
“Mommy!”
I turn toward Cally’s voice. “Gotta go. Love ya. Bye.”
My little girl’s running toward me, arms outstretched. I scoop her into a hug, sign her out, and hit the door.
“You have a good time with your friends?” I ask.
“No! My hair got pwulled and I cwolored on da wall.” Cally took a breath. “Timeout for me.”
Rolling my lips to hide my smile, I can’t stand how stinking cute she is. Even if it’s her explaining why she was in time out. “Probably shouldn’t have drawn on the wall.”
“Mommy.” She buries her head into my shoulder as we head toward the parking lot. “I wanna go to sleep. Story?”
Oh… I sigh. “Sure thing, snugglebug.”
A story makes her bad day go away. My heart squeezes. Like daddy, like daughter.
