Page 21 of The Knockout

“He claimedthatone.” She points across the hall at the door Nixon finally opens. “What about this one?”

“You mean my office?” I ask, already knowing I’ll say yes. Cross and I never could say no to Bellamy. That’s what happens when your baby sister spends half her life in a hospital. You give her anything she wants. Most of the time, it was just for Cross or me to spend the night with her. She hates being alone. So we made sure she never was.

“Come on. You can’t really call that an office. It has a futon, a desk, and a ton of boxes. Plus it’s twice the size of my bedroom in Maine.Please, Ares.If you let us move in here?—”

“Us?” I cut her off as Caitlin comes out of the bathroom and smiles at Nixon.

“Hi, roomie.” She wiggles her fingers his way, then smiles at me. “Anybody in the mood for The Busy Bee? I could go for an eggs bene.”

Bellamy looks up at me with big puppy-dog eyes, and I fold like a bad hand of poker.

Yesterday I went to bed with a three-bedroom condo all to myself, and somehow today, I woke up with three roommates.

What the fuck happened last night?

Maddox

Did you actually let my sister move in with you?

Ares

Not sure she gave me much of a choice.

Hendrix

She’s always been kind of scary.

Callen

She’s a hundred pounds soaking wet. How fucking scary can she be, you big bitch.

Leo

Pretty sure if I piss her off, she’s going to slice off my balls with a knife she’s hiding in her purse.

Maddox

Nah. It’s usually in her pocket.

Ares

What?

Maddox

Don’t worry. She’s really good with it. She’s got great aim with knives and guns.

Callen

Dude. Your dad let her move out?

Maddox

Mom said he didn’t have a choice.

Callen

Makes sense. Nobody wants to piss off your mom.

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