Page 242 of Mountain Daddy
I stop talking when I hear footsteps in the hall.
When Ethan comes into view, I squeeze Kendra’s shoulder.
I don’t want to wake her since she was clearly exhausted if she fell asleep sitting up, but I know she’ll want to hear the update with us.
She grumbles something that sounds dangerously close toDaddyin her sleep.
I clear my throat and give her shoulder a shake. “Kendra. Wake up—” I clear my throat a second time when I nearly call herBaby.
She lifts her head away from my body, and cool air fills the space.
The hat blocks me from seeing her sleepy face, and I hate it.
Joe leans forward, head turned toward Kendra. “Hey, Kenny.”
Kendra jumps in her seat, a shriek of surprise leaving her.
Joe jolts, Kendra startling him right back.
He grips the carrier in both hands. “Christ. Don’t yell at me.”
“Sorry, Dad.” Kendra lets out a strangled laugh. “Guess I’m a little out of it.”
I let my hand slide off Kendra’s shoulder.
Ethan’s brows raise when Kendra saysDad. I don’t think he knows Joe personally, but I know he’s seen us together.
And he’s seen me trying tofuck Kendra in his park.
Thirty, he mouths.
Fuck you,I mouth back.
He shrugs and opens his mouth.
I narrow my eyes and mouth,Fine.Then I mouth,Fuck you,again because he really is a bastard.
“I wasn’t trying to scare you.” Joe balances the carrier on his knees so he can slap a hand to his chest. “Didn’t Rocky tell you I was coming?”
“Yeah, but I fell asleep.”
“Well…” Joe seems to remember Ethan’s arrival. He holds the carrier with both hands again and sits up straight. “Hey, man.”
Ethan nods to him, and I uncross my legs while Kendra sits up on the edge of her seat.
He wouldn’t be milking me for another ten grand if Buddy was fatally injured, but I’m still bracing myself.
“The fox?—”
“Buddy,” Joe interrupts.
“Buddy…” Ethan says slowly. “Is going to be fine.”
The father-daughter duo on either side of me slump back in their seats with loud exhales.
Ethan’s lips twitch, but he continues. “He’s currently sedated, and Dr. Child is setting his broken leg.”
Kendra reaches over to me with her flannel-covered hand.
