Page 24 of Allison

“I love you, too, dad,” Allison says with a laugh. “You’re way better than chopped liver.”

“Well, I should think so,” he counters, trying to sound offended. “I love you, Allison. Now, go see your aunts and try not to roll your eyes when they tell you to find a husband.” Her father knows her all too well.

“Okay, I’ll do my best. See you both on Friday, bye.”

“Goodbye!” Her parents say in unison before the line goes dead. Allison keeps her eyes on her phone for a beat, processing the conversation, before lifting them to look at Russell.

“Well, that was my parents.” She shrugs her shoulders with a nervous laugh. “Sorry about that.” Russell’s concerned look softens into an understanding grin.

“Nothing to be sorry for, sugar. Family is important. I know family can be difficult to deal with sometimes, but treasure every moment. When they’re gone—” he gestures toward her phone. “You’ll miss those phone calls. You can’t get this time back.” Allison has tears in her eyes from the sadness she hears in his voice.

“Oh, Russell!” Allison launches herself into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and straddling his hips. His arms wrap around her, and he buries his face in her neck. He holds her tightly for a long while, neither of them speaking. Finally, he clears his throat and loosens his hold on her.

“You should go find Emma and the others before they send out a search party,” Russell says before pressing a kiss to her temple. Allison leans back searching his red-rimmed, yet dry, eyes. He seems to be okay, but there’s a deep well of pain in them.

“Are you okay?” she asks tentatively. He nods without commenting. “I’m here, Russell, anytime you need to talk about your dad.” Another nod and clearing of his throat. “I know you’re a caveman who has to be strong all the time,” Allison says, drawing a sad smile from him. “but you don’t have to be tough with me.” She places her hand on the side of his face. He holds her gaze for a moment.

“We can have dinner together later if you want,” he says in answer. She knows he isn’t going to break down in front of her. Russell is too much of a man for that. At least he hadn’t become angry and shut her out. She’ll just have to take what he’s willing to give.

She smiles. “I’d like that. Come to my room around six?” He dips his head in agreement. Giving him a deep kiss, she slips off his lap. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later, sugar.”

17

WORM

Worm watches Allison stand and adjust her clothing before she slips out of his door. His emotions are raw. Hearing her conversation with her family had been intense, reminding him of his own family. He’d felt bad for Allison as she’d tried to assure her parents that she is okay living alone in the large city while fending off their insistence she needs to get married and have kids.

He’d had similar conversations with his mom and dad before everything had changed. Grief rears its head again. He’d been overwhelmed with Allison’s compassion for him. It had taken all of his control to keep from breaking down in her arms. He’d felt so exposed, yet comfortable with her. He’d known if he let the tears fall there’d be no judgement from her, but he’d held back. He isn’t ready to be vulnerable in front of her. He wants to be her protector, not the other way around.

Perhaps someday he’ll let her comfort him. She’s the only person he’s wanted to share his grief with. The realization slams into him like a freight train. He needs to curb his feelings. If he isn’t careful, he’ll end up nursing a broken heart when the week is over. He shakes his head at the thought.

No, he isn’t falling for her. He can keep his feelings out of this. It’s just sex. Feeling better, after convincing himself he isn’t emotionally involved, he decides to keep his promise to Sadie and check in with Amber. He has time to kill before ordering their dinner.

“Hello?” Amber answers after three rings.

“Hey, sis, how’s it going?” Worm asks, keeping his tone light. He hasn’t gotten to talk to her since she’d texted him about being grounded. He’s hoping things are settling down at home.

“It fucking sucks, that’s how it’s going!”

“Amber!” Worm scolds.Where did his sweet little sister go?She’s always been a bit of a tomboy and rough around the edges, but she’s never cursed in front of him before. Since dad passed, she’s been doing a lot of things he never thought she’d do. “Watch the language.”

“What do you care?” Amber replies testily. “I’m sure you say a lot worse.” He can’t deny using a lot of foul language, especially when he’s with his team and shit is going sideways, but he’s always been careful not to curse in front of his family. His parents, while not overly religious, had taken them to church and tried to instill basic moral principles and values in him and his siblings.

“I care because you’re my little sister and I love you,” Worm calmly explains. “I’ll admit I have a potty mouth at times, but you’re awfully young to be dropping the F-bomb. Mom would have a cow.”

“She wouldn’t notice,” Amber mumbles so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“Yeah, she would,” Worm disagrees. “I know she’s been distant since dad died, but she does care, Amber. She’s struggling to deal with losing him, just like we all are.”

“You’re not struggling,” Amber accuses. “You’re still out kicking Taliban ass and saving the world, like nothing happened. Meanwhile, we’re here watching mom waste away and Leigh is being a bitch because there’s no one here to reign her in.”

Worm is reeling from Amber’s candid outburst. She’s hardly said more than a few words to him at a time in the last year. He hadn’t paid much attention to it until just now.

“Just because I’m still doing my job doesn’t mean losing dad doesn’t affect me.” Worm sighs, running his hand through his hair. “I know I haven’t shown much emotion around you guys, but that’s because I had to take dad’s place. I have to be the man of the family now. You wouldn’t listen to me or respect me if I was a blubbering mess, would you?”

Amber doesn’t respond. The line is so silent Worm looks to make sure they’re still connected. “Amber?”

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