Page 46 of Redeeming

“No can do. It’s Thanksgiving, remember?”

Shit. Wait... did I lose a whole week?

“And let’s not forget whose fault it is either. You and Dad are the ones otherwise occupied on Thursday. You’re the reason we’re having dinner today instead of sleeping in. Some of us had games last night.” He kicks my leg. “Dick.”

“Fuck off, Leo. I’m up.” I sit and rub my eyes as I work on moving. “My head hurts like a bitch.”

“Just guessing, but it might have something to do with the empty bottle of Don Julio. Maybe if you’d get the fuck up and get showered, I wouldn’t have to be a babysitter.Seriously, man.I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you look like dog shit.” He sniffs me, and I consider head-butting him.

Kill two birds with one stone and all that shit.

If my head hurts from that, maybe the Don Julio will take a back seat.

“Dude, you smell worse than you look. Don’t make me shove your ass in a cold shower.”

Head-butt is looking pretty good.

I stand and stare at him. “I’d like to see you try, man.”

“Leo,” Cooper growls from the front door.

When did he get here?

“Head over to Grandpa’s. I’ll get Callen moving.”

“Whatever you say, Uncle Coop. He’s salty as shit today. Maybe you can figure out what the hell is going on with him. The rest of us gave up.” Leo looks back at me as he walks out. “Take a fucking shower.”

Cooper waits for Leo to leave before he picks up the empty bottle. “Leo’s not wrong, Callen. Take a goddamned shower and meet me down here. I’ll make the coffee.”

When I don’t move, he crosses his arms over his chest. “Mom’s been cooking all day, Callen. Don’t make her wait for you.”

“She’s not your mother,” I mumble like a fucking child as I head to the stairs.

“She’s more mom to me than mine has ever been, you little dick. She’s also going through hell, and she wants her whole family together. That includes you. Men give a shit about making their mothers happy, Callen. Give a shit.”

I ignore my brother as I move into the bathroom and step into an ice-cold shower.

I know I’m being a bitch.

But this is hell.

Three fucking months, and nothing’s changed.

Strike that.

Nothing has gotten better.

Worse—yeah.

Treatment is kicking Dad’s ass.

And Caitlin won’t speak to me.

I know that’s how it needs to be, but fuck me, the reality of it is hell.

Once I’m showered and dressed and feel half-human, I make my way back downstairs, where Coop’s cleaned up my mess from last night.

He kicks one of the kitchen chairs away from the table. “Sit.”

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