Page 45 of Only Temporary

Kellan just rolls his eyes, clearly tired of the teenage angst.Buckle up, because it’s only going to get worse, sweetheart.I’m not bothered by her attitude at all. I’m starting to understand with Raegan, it’s her defense mechanism. Much like Cason. She’s struggled with never having control over her own life—and now that she’s safe in a home with a big brother who’ll always protect her, she’s acting out.

Totally normal, if not a little annoying.

“Good to see you too, Raegan.”

Kellan’s grin is impossible to ignore when his eyes meet mine, and I try really hard not to melt into a pile of goo right here on the sidewalk. I cannot believe I jerked off with him last night over a video call. Who am I?

I’m normally so careful—almost to a fault—but I couldn’t resist actually getting to see him come. And it was a beautiful sight.

I quickly try to school my features as I return my attention back to Raegan. “And he didn’t tattle. He just hasn’t been dress shopping before and could use a friend.”

“You’ve been dress shopping before?” she asks skeptically.

I shrug. “My mom and I go about once a month to catch up, and I went with her and a few foster sisters a time or two.”

Her brow furrows as Kellan opens the door and allows us both to walk inside before he follows. She stops walking and turns to me. “You had foster sisters?”

I nod. “Lots.” I see the juniors section in the store and head that way. “My parents were approved for temporary care, so lots of kids came through our house when I was growing up.”

She purses her lips, and I think she wants to ask me more, but she stops herself. Like Raegan usually does. We search around for dresses, and she lands on three contenders before heading into the dressing room to try them on.

I take a seat next to Kellan outside of the dressing room. “How you holding up?”

He turns to look at me, and it’s amazing the impact a look from him has on my heart. “Wondering if it’s the right decision, letting her go to this.”

I nod my head solemnly. Admittedly, when I heard it was a high school dance with a boy two years older than her, I was worried. “She’ll be okay. It’s at the school, after all.”

“And Raegan is tough as nails.”

“Maybe a little too tough,” I say absently, but it’s clear that caught his attention.

“You think it’s fake?”

“No,” I answer immediately, keeping my voice down so Raegan doesn’t overhear. “I just think she’s had to be tough for so long. She could be vulnerable, but this is good for her to go out with friends. To go to school events and get out in the community.”

He looks a little pale, and I feel bad about being so honest. “She’s right though. Cason has the same attitude as her, and I wouldn’t have even thought twice about him going out with a girl two years older.”

“Double standards,” I say with a smile because I know society has a long way to go. “She’ll be fine.”

“Yeah.” He nods his head, like he’s trying to convince himself, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried about her. But I worry about all four kids, and I know Kellan does too.

When she walks out in the first dress though, I think he might have a coronary. It did not look that short on the rack.

“No. No. No.” He shakes his head and stands up. “Not a fucking chance.”

I try not to snicker. It’s not that bad, but it rides up a little too short, and there’s too much cleavage. I agree. “Maybe the next one,” I try.

Raegan’s eyes are shooting fire, but she huffs and goes back into the dressing room without a fight. She knew what she was doing.

“Gotta test those boundaries, don’t you know?” I nudge Kellan’s big shoulder when he plops down next to me.

“I think that kid is going to be the one to kill me.”

I can’t help laughing at him now. “Poor thing.” I pat his shoulder mockingly, and he growls in my direction—but all that does is turn me the hell on, thinking about his gravelly voice on our video chat last night.

I don’t think I’m ever going to get the sounds of him coming out of my head. Something I’m for sure okay with.

Asking him for a repeat is on the tip of my tongue when Raegan walks out in a more brother-friendly dress. But it’s clear she hates it, so it’s on to try number three, which happens to be the winner.

---