Page 9 of Grumpy Sunshine

Dru, used to my shortness, didn’t say a word as she went back to whatever she was doing on the computer.

I headed for Reign and said, “You can hang out in the breakroom while I catch a couple of hours of sleep.”

“Okay.”She smiled and started following me.

I tried not to get annoyed, but inevitably gave in when she followed me into the room where physicians usually slept when they were trying to catch a few Zs between patients.

“You can sit in that recliner there,” I pointed to it across the room.

“What is this place?”she asked.

I was short when I said, “Exactly like it looks, Reign.”

Reign sighed.“Go to sleep, grumpy.”

I did.

I woke up completely disoriented when a huge, hard body landed next to me.

Laughter followed, and I knew without opening my eyes that it was my brother and sister.

Which brother remained to be seen.

The light turned on, and then there was a feminine cry from beside me that had my brows furrowing.

That’s when I realized what had happened.

Reign had crawled into the bed beside me.

I frowned, wondering why she’d done that, and then realized my mistake.

Because it was Copper that was next to me half on top of Reign, looking like I’d just punched him straight in the belly.

His eyes turned to me, and I saw the betrayal there.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Copper, wait,” I said as he got up and left the room.

Five minutes later, my sister was gone too after giving us both a dressing down.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten.

Then I stood up, slipped my shoes on, and said, “You need to fix this, Reign, or I will.”

Reign winced.“I’m sorry, Chevy.”

“I don’t care anymore, Reign,” I said stiffly.“This will not break apart the family that I just got back.”

I left the room after that and headed for the nurses’ station, anger riding my coattails.

Three

Being single past 30 is like playing hide and seek except no one’s looking for you.

—Aella’s secret thoughts

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