Page 45 of The Secret We Keep
Evie wails with excitement in the background.
“Until things feel better.” The look on her face is telling. She knows exactly what I mean.
Morgan nods. “I hope things feel better for you soon, Paddy.” With her gentle words, her hand slips from mine. She backs away, and I ignore the way the loss of her touch makes me feel. If anything, it proves what a mess I am—to find comfort in something I’ve always denied myself. I’m her friend’s older brother. What the hell am I thinking?
Paddy O'Keefe is not a fuck up
Morgan
Irubatthepain pressing behind my eyelids. The telltale signs of my oncoming headache are hitting hard this morning. Confusion only makes it worse. I only have myself to blame for that because of course, I’m obsessing over holding Paddy O’Keefe’s hand when I should be trying to find out why he’s home. Not only that, but why he said he’s only here until things get better.
What happened to him?
“Okay, last throw,” Paddy calls to Evie.
She’s got her arms in the air, waiting to catch the ball he brought along for Kevin.
“Aren’t you supposed to be throwing that for the dog?”
The loud laugh he barks out makes me laugh at him. He’s like a big kid. “Yeah, but this is more fun.” He launches the ball, his physique strong and so breathtaking it should be illegal.
Evie adjusts her feet, hands at the ready. “I got it! I got it!”
“No, you don’t,” Paddy sings for only me to hear, making me chuckle.
We’ve been launching the ball like this for the past twenty minutes, ever since we worked out that Kevin must be a super-pup. Little thing keeps jumping up Evie’s body and stealing the ball before she can catch it.
“All this running can’t be good for him,” I chime.
Paddy looks my way quickly. “Ah, don’t worry, curly fries. Look how happy they are.”
I haven’t looked away from Evie, but I can feel Paddy’s eyes lingering on me. “Here he goes.”
Kevin swipes the ball from the air, flipping and landing on all fours. He’s blowing heavy breaths, slobber running from his mouth.
“Crap sticks,” Evie shouts playfully, sinking her knees to the grass. “I thought I had that one.” She fusses Kevin as he walks in tiny circles around her legs. “Uncle Pads, he’s really hot.”
“Okay, time to stop,” Paddy calls back. The two of us make our way over to Evie. “Think we should carry him for a bit?” he asks, bending over Evie and checking Kevin.
Evie nods at him. “Can you carry me too?”
One of Paddy’s eyebrows lifts. “I thought you didn’t want to be treated like a kid? Carrying you seems pretty babyish.”
Evie pushes to her feet. “Not if you give me a piggyback it isn’t.”
Paddy drops to one knee. “Guess I have some stuff to learn.”
In a silent understanding between the two of them, Evie wraps her arms around Paddy’s shoulders.
“You okay carrying Kevin, Morgan?” Evie asks.
“Of course.” I pick up Kevin, ignoring the drool around his mouth.
“Little shit loves Morgan more than Grandma.”
I chuckle as Evie tells Paddy off. “You shouldn’t swear you know. You’ll have no money left.”
He jolts her playfully in his arms. “I’m not as bad as your dad was.”
