Page 88 of Packed in the Fire house

I nodded. “Yeah, but it can wait. I need to give Luka some food, he’s probably hungry.” As I spoke, I reached for my apron and started untying the string.

“No, you bake. I’m happy to feed the little man. How about some scrambled eggs?” he asked me.

Pausing, I glanced at Rune. He was doing so much with Luka, I was starting to feel guilty.

“If you don’t want me to, I totally understand,” he said calmly.

“No! No, it’s not that.” I sighed. “I want you to, if you want to. I’m just used to doing everything for him myself, sometimes it hits me that he doesn’t need me as much anymore.”

Rune snorted. “Trust me, Cher, he needs you plenty. You’ve just been running yourself ragged caring for him for so long, it’s natural you’ve become a little bit of a control freak.”

“Control freak?” I cried.

Rune shrugged, a grin on his face. “If the shoe fits…”

They had cared for Luka while I was sick, but that was different. I had been unable to. Now I was healthy, I had an overwhelming need to do everything for my son.

I needed to let that compulsion go. Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I glanced at Rune.

“Go feed my child some eggs and stop yapping, or no cobbler for you,” I grumbled.

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned, leaning down to softly kiss me before turning to the fridge, Luka still in his arms.

He wasn’t wrong. When it came to Luka, I was a bit of a control freak, but I wasn’t going to admit that out loud. I knew now that I was part of a pack, caring for him was going to be a little different, but letting go was proving difficult.

The peach cobbler was cooling on the counter, and the strawberry was ready to come out when my phone started to ring. Pulling the cobbler out quickly, I grabbed my phone off the counter.

Checking the caller ID, I bit my lip.

Storm.

I had stuck to mainly texting with him over the last few weeks, not sure how to address my current situation. I could only avoid him for so long, though. With a sigh, I picked up the phone.

“Hey, Stormy!” I greeted warmly.

“Sunny Solace Sanderson! Where the fuck are you?” he thundered through the phone, his voice a combination of fear and anger.

Shit.

I stilled, panic taking over for a moment.

“W-what do you mean?” I asked.

Rune turned to look at me, confusion on his face.

I shook my head, before mouthingmy brother.

He nodded, but didn’t seem too pleased at my expression.

“Well, I decided to bring Charlotte to visit her auntie and cousin because we’ve hardly spoken in weeks, and imagine my surprise when I find your apartment building went up in flames six fucking weeks ago?”

Double shit.

“Stormy,” I started to say, but words failed me.

“Are you safe?” he asked.

“Yes! I am, I promise that!” I rushed to say.

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