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I started to list off what happens when your body enters the first stage of sleep. I was doing it to give him a lecture and reality check, but mainly to make sure he knew never to do this again to his body.

***

It didn’t take me long to dress and clean Dad’s arm. I had given him a prescription that he needed to get from the pharmacy. He said he was going to be a walking drug chart if he took it all. I was now reminding him how much healthier it was to be a walking drug chart than an infected junkie.

The knock on Dad’s open study door got our attention.

I swallowed sharply at seeing him.

“I’m off, Reaper.” Brad’s words were empty, his normal tone that he spoke to Dad with wasn’t there. “Night.”

He didn’t even glance at me.

“Can you get Roach to head over?” Dad spoke up just as Brad went to turn and leave.

“Why?”

Dad got up. “Need to head to the chemist. Don’t want the girls here by themselves; Tyson’s been drinking too heavy tonight to be left in charge.”

“You aren’t riding, are you, Dad?” I didn’t want him in charge of any moving vehicle.

“After the lecture you just gave me, Hannah, I’m surprised my brain is even able to put two words together.” That was his way of telling me he had listened to what I’d said. Dad’s attention went back to Brad. “Don’t worry about it, Brad. I can go get him. Know all too well what he’s like being woken up.”

I looked at Brad. Was this fate giving me chance with him? Was this the universe putting Brad back in my path?

His eyes were on Dad. “I can do it, Reaper.”

“Nah, brother, it’s all good. I know Roach is actually a rather good shot when woken abruptly.”

“No, I meant I can stay and look after the girls.” Brad reworded what he was getting at. “Eve’s already gone to bed. Tyson is with Layla on the couch. Cyrus and Meg left with Alfie when the game ended.”

“Right.” Dad looked unsure, like he really didn’t want to put Brad out. I sort of felt the same; I didn’t want Brad staying here because he felt like he had to.

Him being forced to babysit me—could it get worse?

“Well, I’m going to watch the midnight classics.” I got up. “You can come, Brad, if you want. Otherwise Granddad is really into black and whites.” I acted like it wasn’t a huge deal if he didn’t stay. And really it wasn’t. I knew that the love he said he felt for me was temporary—it was out of shock. “After all, they came out when he was born.” I gave him the easy option—leave or don’t. Simple, really.

Brad leaned against the study door. “Had to watch the classic horror scream session by myself last weekend.”

I scoffed. “As if you willingly watched TV without me forcing you.” I walked toward him.

“It’s our tradition, how could I skip?”

“Okay, if you watched it then what was the feature scream film for the year?”

“It.”

“You just guessed that.”

“Hear that, Reaper? Your daughter is accusing me of lying.”

“Because you are.” I pushed him on the shoulder as I walked out. “Don’t drag my Dad to your defense. So, you up for it, Brad?”

I was silently holding my breath as I walked out into the foyer, with Brad and Dad behind me. If Brad said yes that meant he was going to hear me out. If not, it just confirmed what I had thought to begin with. Him and I were a fling. Temporary.

But even if he did say yes, it was just a good chance to clear the air and release the tension between us.

“Guess I’m here for the night, Reaper, unless you want me to give you a lift to the chemist?” Brad said and his words got me excited and nervous at the same time.

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