Page 42 of Only Temporary

Braylen is okay. He’ll have a small scar right above his eye, but he seemed totally fine when I got home. Tatum took Kieran with them to the hospital, but Cason and Raegan stayed here.

As far as I can tell, they were okay. They didn’t burn the house down, so yay? But I still feel guilty for not being here when Braylen got hurt. The date with Phillip is on my mind as I surf through channels on the television.

Tatum went home shortly after I got home. He didn’t grill me about my date at all, and I’m assuming that’s a testament to how shaken up he was when Braylen got hurt. The kids are in their rooms, so I have nothing but free time to mentally go over my date with Phillip.

A goofy grin forms on my face, thinking about how good it felt to finally get to touch him. My body reacts, just thinking about it, but it was more than sex—even though we didn’t get that far. God, I wanted to. I was fully prepared to do whatever he wanted to, but my life is absolute chaos, and of course, our one night together didn’t end with orgasms.

I pick up my phone and stare at the screen. I sent Phillip update text messages, and it’s probably too late to call—but I find myself wanting to talk to him. To make him promise me again that we’ll see each other soon.

“What are you grinning at?” Shit. Okay, talk about a surprise. I nearly toss my phone when I hear Raegan’s irritated voice.

“I thought you were in bed.” I deflect and put my phone in my pocket. The day catches up with me as I scrub my hands over my face.

She sits down on the opposite side of the couch and eyes me suspiciously. “Can we go shopping tomorrow?”

That’s... unexpected. She never wants to willingly go anywhere with me. “For?”

Her frown is ever present as always, and she throws attitude my way. “Does it matter?”

“If you want me to take you shopping, it does.” Why is she being so difficult? Braylen and Kieran have been fairly easy, but it’s pretty clear the older two are never going to cut me any slack.

She huffs. “I’m going to a dance next Friday.”

“A dance?” This is the first I’m hearing about it—again, not surprising.

“Yeah. You know, high school gym. Teachers everywhere. Lame music.”

I really wouldn’t know. I never went to a dance in my life. “Wait, high school? You’re in middle school.”

Again, her eyes roll at me, and she huffs loudly. “Good job, Kellan. You got my grade right.” I guess that first day when I picked her up and actually thought she would be fairly decent—should have known better. “Middle school and high school are connected at that stupid school you enrolled us in.”

“But they said that middle school and high school were kept pretty separate.” At least that’s what the principal told me when I enrolled them.

“They do.” She frowns at me.

“Your face is going to get stuck like that.”

And her eyes may never go back to normal. She folds her arms, her face tense. “He’s in tenth grade, okay? Two years is no big deal.”

Yeah, I’m pretty sure it is. But Raegan is tough—I kind of feel bad for the kid already. No doubt she can take care of herself, but still... “So he’s Cason’s age?”

“Oh my God,” she screeches, and it hurts my ears. “What does it matter? I’m not asking you if I can go, I’m asking you if you’ll please take me to get a dress, so I don’t look like a total loser. I’m trying to fit in. Adjust. Isn’t that what you and the dorky social worker want?”

Okay, now I know my face has contorted into pure irritation when she mentions Phillip. He’s not dorky—he’s sexy. So sexy, it kind of amazes me he wants anything to do with me. Of course, I can’t say that. “I thought you liked Phillip.”

Her brows furrow with rapt annoyance. “I do. That’s not the point. Can you take me or not?”

“I um...”

She waits for my answer, not so patiently, and I try to go over the facts. She’s right, I do want her to make friends—but I’m not sure about boyfriends. She’s fourteen, and he’s probably sixteen. Two years shouldn’t be a big deal, but it feels like it. But like she said, there will be teachers there, and it’s a school event. Should be safe.

“Oh my God.” There’s that squeal again. “Would you even hesitate if it was Cason? No,” she answers for me, standing up and putting one hand on her hip. “The hypocrisy. I know it’s because I’m a girl, and honestly Kellan, that’s bullshit. I can handle myself.”

Okay, so she’s not wrong. Am I being sexist here? I probably wouldn’t have blinked if Cason said he had a date even at fourteen.Well, fuck me.“I know that.”

“Do you?” she fights back, and again—I’m kind of afraid for her date a little bit. “I’m not a weakling. He’s a nice guy, and I’m a smart, strong female.”

“Okay, I’ll take you to get a dress.” Honestly, I’d probably agree to anything right now. I just want her to stop yelling at me. Great parenting, I know—but I’m not actually a parent. I’m her exhausted older brother who just went out on his first date this very night, and it so didn’t end the way I wanted it to.

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