Page 113 of Tulips and Lost Time

“Seems he has no problem seeing you as a woman!” He slips free of Jack’s distracted hold, and swinging out, faster than my body can even think to react, he slams his fist down on my tender jaw until I’m flying.

It’s kinda like I’m on my bike. And yet, as my head goes one way and my body goes the other, it’s not like being on my bike at all. I trip on my own feet, my brain too fucking damaged to even consider bringing my hands up in protection. Then the side of my face collides with the cabinet and that’s… that.

Sleep.

36

LUC

BEAT. DOWN.

Iturn at the changing table with a fresh Billy in a clean diaper and new clothes, only to stop on an eternally familiar set of emerald eyes as they watch me over Jess’ shoulder.

Marcus drops his gaze, shame still pulsing through his blood despite all the years that’ve passed since that day inside the girls’ apartment.

And because things are better now, I smile to help ease the self-loathing he forces upon himself every time he remembers back.

“Aww. How about that, Bill? Uncle Marcus is here.”

Stunned, Jess peers over her shoulder and looks up at the man she’s known essentially as a brother her whole life and smiles. She watches him with adoration in her gaze. For a second, anyway. But then she balls her fist, winds her arm back, and smacks his shoulder with as much strength as she can muster. “You didn’t have to hit him that last time and smash his head on the counter, ya know?”

“Ow.” Marc brings his hand up and rubs his arm. But his lips curl up. He’s hurting because of her fist, which to him, means he’s being punished. Punishment, in his eyes, is atonement. And atonement, as far as he’s concerned, is something he can live with. “And just for the record, I’ve apologized for all that.”

I scoff and bring Billy up to rest in the crook of my arm. “Tell that to the arthritis in my jaw.” Smirking, I stalk forward and deposit the baby in his arms. Because he needs to hold her almost as much as I do. There’s only one other person on this planet hurting as much as I am today, and that person is him.

“Too bad you didn’t get here five minutes earlier, Uncle Anger Issues. You could’ve changed her loaded diaper.”

“I’ve done my time with diapers.” He brings Billy up and presses a gentle kiss to her temple. “Everyone sleep okay last night?”

“Dipshit over here has kept me awake since two,” Kane grumbles. “But Billy’s been out all night.”

“Why the fuck would you be up at two if the baby was sleeping?” He rolls his eyes—exactly the way his sister does—and turns on his heels to head toward the stairs. “I always knew your daddy was a bit funny in the head, Bill.” He peppers tiny, repetitive kisses on her forehead. “He always just thought he was funny, like, haha. But Uncle Marc knew better.”

“Don’t talk shit about me to my daughter.” I pack up the dirty diaper, rolling it into itself and fixing the sticky tabs. Then I place it in a little bag, and the little bag inside the genie to stop the smell from leeching into our furniture. “You had free rein to say things to your sister. You don’t get to do the same with Bill.”

“But you remind me of your mommy,” Marcus chatters playfully. “Not exactly the same. Because you got the Lenaghan blonde, but you have your mommy’s chin.” Kiss. “And her cute little jaw.” Kiss.

“He wanna kiss my kid, too?” Kane drawls. “She got the Lenaghan blonde as well.”

“He doesn’t want just any baby to obsess over.” I move into the hallway, then cut left to the bathroom to wash my hands. “He wants the mini-Kari to fuss over since that’s his thing.”

“Shut up.” Marcus grumbles from the stairs. “I’ve grown and evolved since back then. And besides, she’s my baby sister. A dude’s allowed to get a little rowdy when he finds out his best friend and his baby sister have been sneaking around in private.”

I pump soap into my hands and flip the tap on, but I look up in the mirror and purse my lips when Kane’s eyes meet mine. “Grown and evolved. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“It’s too late now.” Kane glances back into the hall and shakes his head. “He already scarred your skull, and Kari already spit out the mini-sis for him to freak out over. We’ve come too far.”

“He’s too old to throw hands like he did back then.” I rinse the soap from my hands and turn the tap off, then I dry them and wander into the hall, only to peer across to the stairs and find an overly worried, sick-with-it big brother loving on the only connection he has to his sister right now.

I can talk shit and bag on him all I like, but none of that takes away from the fact he’s hurting today, too.

Sighing, I head his way and tap his shoulder as I pass. “Coffee? We’re gonna head up to the hospital in a little bit.”

37

LUC

HEART PAIN. HEAD PAIN. NOT REALLY SAME SAME.

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