Page 8 of Stepbrother Dearest

“I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

He patted my shoulder. “Dash told us you took those guys on so he could run. That took balls. Take care of yourself. Let us know if you need anything.”

“I will.”

He gave me one more smile, then turned and left.

The triage line moved about the same pace as molasses flowing uphill, and almost half an hour had passed before I was registered and in the waiting room with everyone else.

I settled in one of the hard plastic chairs and leaned back against the wall as exhaustion hit.

Bzzzz.Bzzzz.Bzzzz.

Carefully, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked my texts.

Kai: have you seen anyone yet?

Gray: not yet. Got triaged. Waiting

Kai: prove it

Gray: asshole

I snapped a picture of the hospital bracelet on my wrist.

Kai: now send a pic of your ugly mug to show you’re still there

Chuckling, I took the photo and sent it.

Kai: I’m texting again when I get home and you’d better still be there. I mean it. I’ll wake Eli up and drive him down if you leave before you’re seen

Gray: I’ll stay. I promise

Kai: are you okay? Like for real?

Gray: fine

When he didn’t answer, I tucked my phone away and leaned my head back against the wall.

Today was the shit icing on the shit cake that was my life. Thank fuck I was too worn out to think about all the ways this was going to screw things up even more.

2

CALEB

“Remindme to check the almanac next year.” Sloane dropped her elbows on the nurses’ station desk dramatically. “The strawberry moon had to be on a fucking Saturday this year.”

I snort-laughed into the coffee I was guzzling.

“I’m serious. Last year was bad, but this is crazy. I’m going to schedule my hours like I’m a werewolf from now on. The three days around the full moon are off-limits.”

“The next blue moon is in a few months. It’s also a supermoon. I’ve already requested it off.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” She swiped my cup out of my hand and took a gulp. “Ugh, what is this?”

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