Page 28 of Keeping Katie

My stomach tightens. Shoot. I haven’t texted him yet. It only took a few minutes for me to fall asleep after he left, and I slept like a baby. Once I woke up, I needed to talk to Chloe.

There’s a rustling sound. “I believe you were supposed to message me when you woke up, princess.” His voice is deep and stern, but there’s also a hint of care. “I was getting worried about you.”

I suck in a breath. “You were?”

“Yes. Why didn’t you text me?”

“Sorry. I needed to talk to Chloe first.”

He sighs. “Still overthinking it, baby?”

Rubbing Pancake’s thin ear again, I close my eyes and smile. It’s like he knows me already. “Yes. A little.”

“Was Chloe helpful?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m coming over and bringing dinner. Be there in about half an hour.”

I bolt up in bed. “Wait, but…”

He hung up on me. Seriously?

Remembering that he left his phone number, I grab the card from the nightstand.

“Yeah, princess? Did you need something else besides dinner?” he asks.

“What? No. I mean, you don’t have to come over. I can find something here. I have work to do anyway, and I promised my neighbor I would bake her some cakes for her son’s birthday, so I should work on that, too. Thanks for the offer.”

The line is silent for a few seconds, so I look at my phone to make sure the call is still connected. Then he chuckles deeply, and my core tightens at the sound.

“That’s not how this works, baby girl. I’ll be over in thirty with dinner, and we’ll go from there. We’ll also be having a discussion about you overdoing things and not taking care of yourself first.”

This time, when I open my mouth to argue, no words come out. I take care of myself. I mean, sure, I don’t remember the last time I washed my hair. Or painted my nails. Or bought new clothes. But it’s fine. I don’t need any of that stuff. Even though I often wish I had the time and energy for it.

“See you soon, baby.”

“Uh-huh,” is my only reply because what else is there to say? Grady O’Brien doesn’t ask permission. He does what he wants, and tonight, he wants to come over. And I still look like a walking disaster.

Shower. A shower would help. Maybe I can even take a minute to shave. Yep. Shaving is a must. Not that anything is going to happen. Nope, it definitely won’t.

9

GRADY

“You’re being pushy.” Chloe crosses her arms and glares at me as I slide my phone into my pocket.

“Yeah? Does that surprise you?”

She studies me for a beat, then drops her arms. “Not really. It’s how you guys do things. It’s annoying but also kind of hot.”

“Excuse me?” Bash asks, turning his head to look at us from his seat on the couch. “Did you just call Grady hot? Do you want your ass reddened tonight? You’re already in trouble for hugging that Tom guy.”

Chloe looks at me and rolls her eyes. She’s not the least bit worried about her husband’s threats. He hands them out like candy on Halloween, but I have a feeling that when it comes down to it, she rarely gets disciplined.

“Who is this Tom guy? Katie brought him up last night. Do I need to worry about him?” I question Bash.

“Of course not,” Chloe answers before Bash has the chance. “He’s an old homeless man. Katie gives him free coffee and leftover pastries and offers to wash his clothes and blankets. He never lets her, though.”

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