Page 59 of Suddenly Entwined

“A thank you for keeping my secret.”

He groans. “Why are the secrets I’m keeping from your brother racking up so high?”

“I don’t want you to worry about me,” I whisper.

“Comes with the apartment.”

“Did you worry about my brother too?”

He laughs softly. “Honestly? Sometimes.”

“It gets worse.”

I’m already in this far, I may as well be forthright with all my secrets.

“Can I handle it?”

I nod. “I’m not registered for college in September.”

“Okay, so that’s not worse at all. I thought…I don’t know what Ithought.”

Berg’s reassurance makes me think that maybe I’ve built this up in my head. Of course my parents are excited for me to finish school, but is it as dire as I’ve been telling myself it is?

“Is that because you don’twantto go back?”

“Well, I do…but the money.”

“Ah, so it all links back to that.”

“Tell me some of the things you’re really great at as a Dad.”

“Nice way to change the subject.”

“You said you didn’t want to hear me speak negatively, so let’s do some positives. It’s like at supper. You don’t only do the lows. You do the highs also!”

“Fair enough.”

He falls silent, thinking for a moment and probably still processing what I told him.

“Okay. I make some pretty good suppers, we never miss movie night, and I absolutely dominate pillow fights.”

“And you’re superdupergood at playing beauty salon,” I add.

Berg laughs, enveloping me in a tight bear hug that makes me wheeze.

“The prettiest man with butterfly clips I’ve ever seen,” I tease, scarcely able to move in his grip.

“Quit it,” he growls in my ear.

“So. Glittery,” I rasp, wiggling. “This is no fair. You’re too big. I’m at adisadvantage.”

I know I’m being sort of shameless by squirming around in his lap like this. He said we should stop…but then he returns my hugs and talks to me like I’m someone special.

“You are definitely not the one at the disadvantage here, Caro. You make me feel defenceless.”

Oh. I still.

Vulnerable Berg hits different.

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