Page 66 of I Got You

“I thought I was going to have to murder someone.” I roll my neck, needing to get my own emotions back under lockdown.

“Sad tears are the worst.” Maggie shifts away from me, her warmth and scent gone. “When someone hurts these kids, I want to rip their head off, and right now, I want to call Monica and tell her what a selfish piece of shit she is.”

“Do I get a turn?” Maggie snorts, getting up as Liv comes back in with toys. “We aren’t done with that other conversation,” I warn.

She glances at me over her shoulder but doesn’t respond, following Liv down the hall. I rest my head back on the couch, watching Mark call a play, Liv’s tears still damp on my shirt. It’s been a long time since I’ve revisited my birthdays growing up, and I really don’t want to think about them now. If it was celebrated at all, it was with people I didn’t want to be with.

So many times, I’d wished for my mom or dad to walk in the door and take me back, but they never did. If I’d understood anything about God and prayer, I would have been on my knees day and night. I share in Liv’s tears and heartache, wanting something so badly that’s likely never coming true.

I think about what Maggie said. Sometimes, God grants the things we pray for, but sometimes, He has something even better planned. Given all I've been through, I have to sit with that for a minute. I have many things to be grateful for, but it’s hard to imagine any of them are better than having parents who love and care for you.

Cole walks into the room and sits down on the couch. “What’s the score?”

“Seven to nothing, New York.”

“Are Mark and Sean still coming out for bye week?”

“Yeah.” Mark will bring his large ego with him, and Sean will try to read too much into all of this.

“The guys are going to lose their minds if they come to practice.”

I roll my eyes. “Mark’s a giant diva, so level your expectations.”

Cole laughs. “Where’s Maggie?”

“Giving Liv a bath.”

He slumps back into the couch. “I bet all of this is more than you imagined.” He pauses. “Thanks for being here. The kids love you. Teddy told me about your pranks, and Garrett showed me his science projects. I laughed so hard I couldn’t breathe when Hank told me about Maggie thinking he had a girl in his room.” He laughs again and then sobers. “I wish I could be around more, but it’s nice to know you’re here. I’m glad they have you now.”

I’m not sure what to say. “They’re great kids.”

“Do me a favor and keep an eye on Maggie? She’s tough, but the stuff with Cliff and Joan will hit her hard, and now with Danny texting her….”

I wondered about Danny, but I know that Cole doesn’t like him, and that tells me enough. Since he brought him up, I won’t waste an opportunity. “What about Danny?”

“He’s just a piece of work.”

“Do I need to kick his ass?” I’m in the mood to punch something.

“Only if I get to help. Look, they’re her stories to tell. I just worry about her. She’s got a lot to deal with and doesn’t need anyone messing with her head.”

This doesn’t make me feel better, but I drop it because he’s right. It should be up to Maggie. I want to know, but I want her to be the one to tell me.

“You’re a good brother.”

Cole stands. “Yeah, well, I hit the jackpot when it came to siblings, so I’m the lucky one. I gotta go study for a test tomorrow. I’ll see you at practice.”

He slaps my hand and heads out the door. I try to get back to the game and Mark, but all I can think is that I feel pretty lucky to be here at all.

Chapter 22

MAGGIE

I step out of the shower, into the steam-filled room and dry off. I’m exhausted and ready to fall into bed, then make like a sloth and subtly scoot closer to Shane’s warm body inch by inch. Seriously, the man’s temperature must run ten degrees higher than the average person's. I sleep in a heated cocoon beside him, and it’s amazing.

I throw on shorts and a tank top and smear lotion on my arms and legs before brushing my teeth. When I pull the door open, Shane is still propped up against the headboard, only now wearing his glasses and holding a book while the game plays low on the TV. My head falls back with an exhausted groan because those glasses only make me want to snuggle him in a completely different way.

“What’s the problem?” He looks at me over the top of the black rims.

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