Page 114 of The Apple Tree

“Eve!” Josh ran to me with Clifford right behind him.

“Oof!” I grunted. He nearly knocked me over, hugging my waist. I picked him up and avoided eye contact with Anne and Fred. “Ready to read a book?” I asked, kissing his pink cheek.

“Thanks for doing this,” Fred said. “He’s taken quite the liking to you.”

“Yeah, well, I spend a lot of time with Mr. Munchkin.” I quickly headed toward the stairs.

“Shh!” Josh held his little finger to his lips when I set him down. “Daddy’s sleeping.”

I couldn’t safely carry him up the stairs. I needed to hold the handrail just for good measure. Giving him a smile, I nodded before following his lead.

“You need to go potty before we read a book,” I whispered.

Josh hurried into the bathroom, partially shutting the door, but not before Clifford squeezed in behind him.

That dog was his shadow. And I was grateful that my dad had stopped pestering me to find him a different home.

I listened for Anne and Fred before cracking open Kyle’s door. The lights were out, and he was on his back with his injured arm in the sling, hugged to his stomach. He didn’t speak or move, so I assumed he was asleep. When the toilet flushed, I closed the door.

Josh bolted toward his bedroom.

“Wash your—” I gave up, not caring if he washed his hands.

“This one,” Josh said, holding up a book.

I nodded toward his bed and tucked him in before sitting beside him. He hugged my waist and stared at each page. Halfway through, he fell asleep. I set the book on the nightstand and shut off the light. As I slid out of bed, Josh stirred and reached for me, so I squeezed into his single bed along with Clifford at our feet, hugged him to me, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning,I slipped out of Josh’s room and tiptoed down the stairs with Clifford. “Oh!” I startled, walking into the kitchen and letting Clifford out back to go potty. “Good morning.” I quickly combed my fingers through my hair. “I didn’t think anyone else was up.”

“Good morning. We weren’t sure you’d stay. Sleeping in a single bed with Josh couldn’t have been comfortable,” Anne said, sipping a cup of coffee. “Kyle made it clear last night that he doesn’t want us to stayorhis parents to come help him. So …” She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. “We’re leaving after Josh gets up. Your parents promised to keep an eye on things. Kyle shouldn’t be driving, but since it’s his left arm that’s injured, he thinks he’ll be fine. That man is stubborn to a fault.”

I couldn’t say much. Everyone thought the same thing about me.

“We really can’t thank you enough for all you've done for Kyle and Josh. You’re very mature for your age,” Fred said, glancing up from the newspaper.

With a tight smile, I nodded. “Josh is irresistible. I adore him.” I twisted my lips. “Kyle is nice too. He taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow.”

And he built me a new hut.

Too bad I was his bad decision.

“He won’t be shooting that bow anytime soon,” Fred mumbled.

Anne eyed him with a frown. “Because he saved your friend.”

“Morning,” Kyle’s gravelly voice sounded behind me.

I swallowed before glancing over my shoulder. His jogging shorts hung low on his waist, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. His gaze flitted between me and his brother.

“How are you feeling?” Anne asked.

Kyle winced while reaching for a glass.

“Let me help—” Anne started to say.

“I got it,” he mumbled, setting it in the sink and then turning on the faucet.

Anne and Fred exchanged tiny eye rolls, and I let Clifford inside.

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