Page 80 of Putting Out
Kenny opened his mouth, then shut it. His expression let her know he wasn’t happy but she also knew he wouldn’t fight her. Not if he understood it was what she wanted.
“I’ll go set the alarm,” Odie volunteered. “Sorry, Reilly. I didn’t think…”
“It’s okay, Odie. I didn’t, either.”
Kenny stared at the mark on the wall and shook his head.
“Luke is going to be pissed.”
“He can paint over it.”
“Not about the wall.”
Reilly nodded. “I know.”
“Should we call him?”
Reilly shook her head. “We’ll deal with him tomorrow.”
“You’ll sleep in his room and I’ll sleep on the floor.”
She started to protest but then realized the idea of having her brother sleeping next to her on the floor didn’t sound like such a bad idea.
“Just like when we were kids?”
“Yeah, just like when we were kids,” Kenny grumbled. “You always got the bed and I always got the floor.”
Reilly smiled. “That’s what big brothers are for.”
She led the way to Luke’s room and crawled underneath the comforter as Kenny arranged some pillows and blankets at the foot of the bed. She did it as quietly as she could so Kenny wouldn’t hear, but she couldn’t resist inhaling Luke’s scent from the pillows. She’d never admit it to him but smelling him, feeling like he was close, helped.
At first she doubted she would sleep, but the effect of having the two men in her life, one at her feet, and one - if not present at least close in spirit - under her nose worked as a drug to lull her into a sense of safety. Her body relaxed and her mind drifted into unconsciousness where she couldn’t see the three dots on the wall anymore.
The last thought she had before sleep claimed her… she was going to have to change her ball mark.
