Page 89 of Shiny Things

“Again already?”

I chuckled. “Maybe after a quick nap.”

“Deal.”

So that’s what we did. Only just as I was starting to stir, the doorbell sounded.

I groaned. “Who could that be?”

“I don’t know. Stay here and I’ll get rid of them.”

He threw on a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on his hips.

Damn he looked good.

I admired the view until he was out of sight, and then snuggled back down, pulling the blanket around me.

I didn’t think anything could possibly wipe the smile from my face, but then I heard him.

“We figured she might not be up to coming out, so we brought game night to you.”

“Dad?” I practically yelled.

Much to my horror, he walked right into the bedroom.

Grabbing at the sheets, I covered myself up even more.

“Jesus, Kimmy, it’s still daylight out. Put some clothes on and get out here. I brought pizza and Monopoly.”

“Shut the damn door, Dad,” I yelled at his retreating back.

Instead, Elias ran back in.

“I panicked,” he confessed. “And they pretty much bulldozed right over me.”

“They? Andrew’s here too.”

“Yes, he is. Now get your ass out here. And I’m not going easy on you just because you almost died yesterday,” my brother yelled from the next room. “Ow.”

I giggled knowing our father likely just smacked him across the back of the head.

“Put some clothes on first. No one wants to see all that. Well, maybe Elias, but I assure you, even he doesn’t want to see you naked as long as we’re here,” Andrew teased.

Dad must have smacked him again.

“Stop hitting me or you’re going down, old man.”

“He’s right, you know.”

“Damn straight I am.”

“Shut up, Andrew.”

Begrudgingly, I got up and dressed.

Elias threw on a shirt and left me to finish.

“Traitor,” I whispered at his back.

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