Page 118 of Mended Hearts

I opened my eyes and found her looking up at me, stormy and sad and utterly beautiful.

“We’ll talk, okay?” she whispered. “When I get back, we’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah,” I said softly, brushing my lips over her forehead before I stepped back and shut the door behind her.

She turned to walk toward the elevator, but paused with her hand on the railing.

“Tell the kids Merry Christmas for me.”

My throat burned. “Yeah,” I said again. Slumped.Wrong. This whole thing was wrong. “Have a Merry Christmas, Trouble.”

18

Well That’s a Hail Mary of A Different Color

LEIGHTON

Leighton

Congrats on the win today.

Paxton

Thanks, Sis. Excited for some r&r.

Leighton

How much do you love me?

Paxton

Enough that I’m a little nervous we’re about to bury a body. These tickets were first class, dammit.

Leighton

You know you’re my favorite brother, right?

Paxton

Fuck me, we are burying a body, aren’t we?

Leighton

Not tonight. Are there open seats on your flight?

Paxton

Um…

Leighton

You board in ninety minutes, right?

Paxton

Yeah, I’m already through security.

You okay?

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