Page 56 of Myla: The Hawthornes

I loved him and I didn’t want to be without him. I’d just have to change my expectations.

At some point I drifted off to sleep, because when I opened my eyes again, sunlight was drifting through the window and a tiny nose was just a couple of inches from mine. Dark brown eyes with long lashes blinked at me.

“Uncle’s got a girl sleepin’ on the couch!” Sean yelled in my face.

Cian jerked in surprise. “Christ, Seanie,” he grumbled, catching Sean as he nearly topped off the couch. “Not so loud, bud.”

“You sleepin’?” Sean asked, leaning close to Cian’s face. “You breath stinky.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Cian muttered under his breath.

I snickered, pressing my face against Cian’s side.

“How the hell did you end up down there?” Cian asked, tipping his head down to look at me.

“No idea, but I hope you’re wearing deodorant,” I joked, wiggling my head back and forth. Somehow I was wedged into his armpit.

He leaned down and sniffed. “Think you’re good,” he said roughly. “All I can smell is your shampoo.”

“Thank God.”

He dropped his arm down until it covered half of my face.

“Hey,” I complained.

Without warning, Cian shot up, twisting as he went so that his feet landed by the side of the couch.

“Oof,” I grunted, my entire body jolting on the cushions.

“Your uncle still outside?”

“He said he was staying until you woke up,” I called as Cian rose and stomped toward the front door.

“Why the hell did you let me sleep so long?” Cian asked, throwing open the front door.

“Good morning to you, too.”

That wasn’t Uncle Will. At some point, my dad must’ve taken his place.

“Hi, Dad,” I called out, waving my arm in the air.

“Mornin’, Princess,” he called back.

“This isn’t the fucking Waltons,” Aisling bitched as she came down the stairs.

“Good night, John-boy,” I sang back.

“Who’s John-boy?” Sean asked.

I’d kind of forgotten that he was still standing there.

“It’s from a TV show.”

“I like TV shows.”

“Oh yeah?” I sat up and pushed my hair out of my face. “What’s your favorite?”

“I don’t know.”

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