Page 94 of Heads You Lose (Grim & Beast Duet 2)

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Don’t you Worry Child

BEAST

“Soyou’rethe man that got my sister all in a tizzy,” Christy says, eying me from across the kitchen table. “I can see why, you’re just like a tattooed version of that actor Kate loves so much. I mean, apart from the small fact you have hair and he doesn’t.”

“Is that right? And who’s this actor then?” I ask, knowing full well who it is.

“I dunno, some balding dude. Seriously, the way she goes on about him, you’d think it was him she was madly in love with and not you.”

“Christy! I don’t do anything of the sort” Kate exclaims, her cheeks heating as she cringes just a little.

“Alright, I’m exaggerating. She only mentions himoncea week,” Christy reveals, smirking.

“Liar,” Kate mutters.

I roll my eyes. “Just once a week, eh?”

“That’s right. You’ll be happy to know that you get the most air time.”

“I should fucking hope so!”

“Language!” Kate admonishes, holding in a laugh as Christy giggles behind her hand.

“I told you before,fuckis just another word in the English language. So don’t mind me. Swear away.”

“Right? Why does everyone get so hung up about it?” I reply, liking this kid already.

Kate smiles indulgently at the sparkling little rainbow even if she did just call her out. “We’ve talked about this before though. No swearing.”

“Pshh!” Christy replies waving her hand at Kate. “You do itallthe time!”

“That doesn’t mean you should.”

“I happen to agree with Kate,” Sandy pitches in, handing us both a cup of coffee and Christy a glass of lemonade. “Just because someone does something, it doesn’t mean it’s okay for you to do that too, remember?”

“Yes, but that time was different. Darren was being a bully to Lucinda and I couldn’t not punch him for making her cry. He hits herallthe time,” Christy points out with a look of disdain.

“Wait, you punched a kid for being a bully?” Kate asks, pride lighting her eyes.

“I did. He totally deserved it!”

I bark out a laugh, loving the kid’s sassy and snarky personality. She might not look very much like Kate with her red hair and different coloured eyes, but she’s similar in personality. They’ve certainly got the same moral compass, that’s for sure.

“See, you agree with me, don’t you, Roger?” Christy asks, staring at me pointedly.

“Maybe you should be listening to Sandy, eh? I think she’s probably better at all this parenting shi—stuffthan me.”

“Good answer,” Kate mutters under her breath.

“Well,Ihappen to think you did the right thing. That laddie has been asking for trouble for some time now. He shouldn’t dish it out if he can’t take it back,” Frank says, snatching up a slice of cake and taking a bite.

“Frank!” Sandy admonishes.

“What, love?” he says around a mouthful of food. “You know I’m right.”

“Well, what you or I think doesn’t really matter. We have to teach Christy that there are better ways to deal with conflict than violence or we’d all be going around punching the first person to piss us off!”

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