Page 135 of The Persistence of Thornes
“I can do it.” Caleb flashes a grin. “The office ladies love me.”
“You know how to work your charm, don’t you?” I joke.
He peers into the kitchen, where Quinn and Seda are washing dishes. “Of course.”
I follow his line of sight. “I like it when she’s over.”
With a smile, Caleb sets his empty plate on top of Casen’s. “I do too.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to get this one upstairs for bed.” I frown at my sleeping brother. There’s no way I want him to hobble his way up the stairs.
“I can carry him up,” Caleb volunteers.
“While I don’t doubt your prowess, I’d rather not put you at risk of breaking your neck or injuring him more.”
“Baby,” he laughs. “That’s definitely doubting my prowess.”
“Whatever,” I mumble.
“I have an inflatable mattress. We could set it up downhere. It’s not as comfortable as a real bed, but it would keep him from having to deal with the stairs for now.”
I hate for Casen to be displaced longer, but it’s probably the best option. The doctor said this wouldn’t be an easy process, but until now, I didn’t understand just how hard it’ll be. Even after the cast comes off, he’ll probably be required to wear a boot, and he’ll need physical therapy.
“I’ll go get it now.” Caleb eases off the couch so as not to wake Case and takes our dirty plates with him.
He’s just returned with the air mattress—still in the box, like it’s never been used—and a set of sheets, when the oven timer goes off.
Casen startles, shooting up straight beside me. “What’s that?” he looks around, eyes bleary. “Alarm?”
I can’t help but smile at his confusion. “Timer for brownies.”
“Ooh, brownies.” He drops his head back, his face slack with exhaustion. “I want one.”
“Once they cool down, you can have one. Caleb’s going to inflate a mattress so you can sleep down here rather than tackle the stairs tonight. Is that okay?”
Casen agrees without hesitation, which can only mean he’s really hurting. “That’s fine. I need to pee.”
Standing, I help him find his balance and get the crutches under his arms. Then, hands clasped, I force myself to remain where I am rather than help him while he makes his way slowly to the bathroom.
Once the door clicks shut behind him, I help Caleb move the coffee table to one side of the room and spread out thedeflated air mattress. And when Casen returns, he bypasses us, heading straight for his brother and Seda in the kitchen.
Seda smiles up at him with hearts in her eyes as he approaches.
Caleb turns on the mattress’s built-in air pump and follows my line of sight, huffing. “I really thought I had a few more years before the crushes started.”
With a laugh, I take the fitted sheet from him, and we work together to put it on the mattress. It keeps popping off the bottom corner on my side. Caleb gently nudges me over and fixes it with annoying ease.
“Show-off,” I tease.
He shakes out a soft blanket and lays it across the bed. “I’ll grab his pillow.”
While he jogs up the stairs, I join the kids in the kitchen so I can rinse the plates and put them in the dishwasher. I’ve gotten used to the damned appliance and I’m going to miss it when we move back into our house.
That thought has my stomach sinking, though I’m quickly distracted by Quinn.
“I’m going to sleep on the couch so I can be close to Case.”
“I can sleep on the couch too,” Seda volunteers.
