Page 8 of Healed
“It’s not.” Brandt said. “Kiernan, how bad has it been living next to him?”
“Until the last few weeks not bad. Then suddenly he hooked up with this new girl and they’re having a party every single night. We just keep waiting for him to replace her with a new oneand hopefully the next one will be a little less party-monster,” Kiernan said.
“She rude to you?”
“A couple of times when I went over there, it ain’t no big thing. Wasn’t any need to stir things up. I just steer clear.”
“Abby said she’d shot her a few hateful glances.”
“Did she?! Well, I’ll be checking into that when I get home.”
“Why wouldn’t she tell you?” Brandt asked.
“She’s worried about not rocking the boat. She don’t want to have to leave and go anywhere else. I ain’t said anything about her attitude with me because I don’t really care. She ain’t worth nothing, and I figure as long as breathing rubs her the wrong way, I’ll just be sure to keep doing it. But giving my wife shit, I don’t stand for that in any way, shape, or form. This is our home. Abby should be able to feel comfortable and welcome wherever she’s living.”
“Why is Abby worried about rocking the boat? Hasn’t she figured out yet, y’all are supposed to be here?” Barron asked.
“Things weren’t great before,” Kiernan said. “This is the best any of us have ever had. I think she’s still not convinced that she won’t wake up to it all being gone.”
“Kiernan?” Brandt said.
Kiernan looked up at Brandt.
“Y’all aren’t going anywhere unless you want to. You’re part of this clan. What can I do to make her understand that?” Brandt asked.
“Appreciate that, Brandt. It’ll come in time. She’s just grown up with no security. She’ll figure it out. She’s much better than she used to be about believing we’re home finally. But I’m definitely going to talk to her about not taking shit from anybody. Especially somebody not of this clan.”
“Maybe give Remi a break, though. Don’t take it to him,” Shaun said.
Everybody looked at Shaun.
Shaun glanced up and found everyone looking at him. “What? I already said I feel bad he’s having such a hard time.”
“He’s causing it to be more hard than it has to be,” Brandt said.
“That much is true,” Shaun said.
“You know? I really don’t think it’s Bailey he’s grieving so much, and I don’t think he even knows it,” Barron said.
“What do you mean? You think it’s Cristie?” Brandt asked.
“Yeah. I think his Dragon is grieving the loss of his real mate, and all he’s doing is reacting to the misery of his Dragon. I have no doubt he’s missing Bailey, but I’m thinking the total funk he’s in is because his beast got a look at his real mate and Remi walked away.”
“Sounds more understandable,” Brandt said. “Maybe I’ll talk to Havoc and see if he’s heard anything from Maia about how Cristie is doing.”
“If not, maybe he can call her and ask, point blank,” Barron said.
~~~
Daisy hummed to herself as she hopped out of her jeep and practically skipped her way into Vince’s Place. She paused just inside the door, blinking until her eyes adjusted from the bright sun outside to the interior of Vince’s.
“Well, hello there, Ms. Daisy!” Vince called out.
Daisy grinned and went straight to him, leaning over the bar to kiss him. “Hi, Uncle Vince.”
“What you doing in here this early?”
“I’m on my way to the studio. I have some students coming in this afternoon, but I’m thinking I need a milkshake to get me through.”
