Page 57 of All We Need

I’m half tempted to start a new fire and throw the note she left on the coffee table into the flames.

Booth,

The last few days were surprisingly the most funI’vehad in a while.

Yesterday morning was…I’lllet you fill in the blanks.

Thank you for distracting me whenIcouldn’t be with my family.

I’m hoping it doesn’t come as a surprise whenIsay yesterday shouldn’t have happened.There’sno regret on my end, and you didn’t pressure me into anything.

It’s easier ifI’mthe boss you wish would disappear, and you’re the employee who lives to irritate me.

MerryChristmas,

Silver

With the cabin locked up and my truck easing down the snowy road,Ipush all thoughts of her out of my head.Ican’t sayIblame her.Sheforewarned me.

By the timeIreach my house,I’vedone the complete opposite.Mybrain is flooded with her.

No life raft.Nohelp.

No fucking clue what to do.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

booth

“Lottie.”Ipeer down at my niece lovingly.Quitethe contrast to her sulky pout. “Youhave to eat your vegetables.”

“They’re yucky.”Shegags dramatically.

Lottie enjoys hanging out with me whenI’mcooking.She’sgood company, even though she eats half the ingredients and asks a hundred questions per minute.

For the last couple of hours,I’vebeen sweating my ass off in my mom’s kitchen finishingChristmasdinner.Withher leg still in a cast after her fall,Ioffered to cook again likeIdid atThanksgiving.

“If you don’t eat them, your dad won’t let you have any ofAuntyQuinn’sapple pie.”

Her head whips side to side until she gets dizzy, nearly toppling over.

“Okay, okay, you little toad.”Ikneel so we’re eye level. “Ifyou eat half your green beans and all your sweet potato casserole, we can sneak the rest toCurly.”

“Will not!” calls a deep voice.

Lottie snickers behind her fingers. “UncleGrahamdoesn’t like us feedingCurly.”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”Iruffle her hair.

“I’m literally right here.Listeningto you both conspire.”Grahamwalks in with hisDachshund,Curly, trotting behind him, tail wagging.

“Curly!”Lottiesqueals and dives to her knees, rolling around with the dog, who eats up the attention.

“Stop teaching her bad habits!”Hepunches me in the shoulder.

“Um, ow.Andno.I’mthe fun uncle.It’smy job.Right, toad?”

“Uh-huh.”Shenods, while avoidingCurly’ssloppy kisses. “Lastweek,UncleBooshowed me how to get chips from the vending machine.Wegot a dollar, some string, and then?—”

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