Page 99 of Hold You Close
“She outgrew them, Morgan. Stop it, seriously, you can’t win this one, honey,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she whines, “I just was asking.”
Ian appears in the living room with a scowl on his face. “That boy . . . is trouble.”
“So what you’re saying is that he’s you?”
“Watch it, woman.”
“You were all about training him to be your clone when Sabrina and David were alive,” I remind him.
“Yes! Because he wasn’t my responsibility!”
Sounds about right.
I move closer to my husband, placing my hand on his chest. “Well, that is a mistake you’ll have to fix. Was he naked?”
“No, but even with my warning he was practically mounting her.”
I really didn’t need to know that. I can’t picture that sweet boy mounting anything. I know he’s older and all that, but he’s still the pudgy-faced five-year-old who would sit on my lap when he came over. I can’t see him as a grown up.
“Just don’t leave him alone.”
“They’re coming up to go swimming now.”
“Ian.” I drop my hand. “What did we do in the pool last night because we had privacy?”
Chris was at his friend’s house and Morgan was playing with the little kids. We had one of the spats that we’re infamous for, and went outside to finish it up. The fight wasn’t the only thing that finished, though. He said something rude and I pulled his move, shoving him into the pool. Only this time, he grabbed my waist, dragging me in with him.
After a few more words of anger, he ended up shoving his tongue down my throat.
Within minutes, I was up against the pool wall and he was reminding me what happens when we fight.
Unbelievable make-up fucking.
“Great!” Ian throws his hands up in the air and then points to Brina. “She’s never dating!”
Here we go. He continues to stomp around the house and Morgan appears. “New house rule. None of you are dating anymore!”
“What did I do?” Morgan asks.
“You live,” I tell her.
“You live and boys like girls. And boys convince girls to do things they shouldn’t do.”
Morgan crosses her arms. “You’re off your meds again, aren’t you?”
He turns, and for the first time, I see a bit of fear in her eyes. “No. Boys.”
“Okay, fine.” Her hands go up in surrender. “No boys. Got it.”
“That’s right, I’m in charge here,” Ian informs us.
“I’m going back up to my room—where it’s safe.” Morgan retreats, her hands still in the air. Poor thing.
“Nowhere is safe, sweetheart,” I tell her.
Ruby comes around with her arms open to Ian. “You’re silly, Uncle Ian.”
