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His words make me pause and straighten. “What do you mean she’s still struggling?”
His eyes widen and he lets out a low curse as he runs his hand over his chin. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s not my business to tell.”
“Austin, she’s my fucking sister. If there’s something going on with her, it’s my business.”
He sighs and seems to think about it for a second before he nods. “She’s been having panic attacks, and she’s still struggling with bouts of depression.”
My chest suddenly tightens, and I feel like I’m about to throw up. “How do you know all this? Why hasn’t she talked to me? Is she hurting herself?”
Austin holds up his hands and shrugs. “I don’t know why she hasn’t talked to you. I only know because I found her in the parking lot of the bar in the middle of a panic attack one night a few months ago.”
“A few months ago?” I roar. “Why didn’t you fucking tell me?”
“She asked me not to, and I didn’t want to betray her trust. If she were harming herself, I would have told you no matter what, but she promised me she wasn’t hurting herself. I’ve been checking on her regularly and keeping tabs. I’m making sure she’s going to therapy once a week. She seems to be doing better, but you know how mental health can be. It comes and goes, and her ex did a fucking number on her.”
I hate that he didn’t tell me any of this until now, but I appreciate that he’s been there for her. It’s one of the reasons he’s my best friend. He’s a good man, and he’s always been good to Greer, even when she’s been a total brat to him.
“If things get worse, I want to know immediately. And I’m going to talk to her, so be prepared for her to be pissed at you for telling me.”
“Not like she’s not pissed at me half the time anyway,” he says with a soft smile.
I relax a little bit and shrug. “She’s Greer. A royal pain in the ass.”
We both chuckle and nod, then pick up the mugs of cocoa.
“Thanks,” I say before we go outside. “For taking care of her. I appreciate you. And just so you know, if you were ever interested in my sister, I’d approve. But don’t hide it from me.”
He stares at me for a few seconds before giving me a slight nod. Conversation over, we head outside.
“Girls, come take a break and have some hot chocolate,” I call out.
All five of them squeal and run up to the porch along with the dog. Summer comes directly to me and reaches for a mug, but I pull it away and raise an eyebrow.
“What do you say?” I ask quietly.
She nibbles on her bottom lip and stares up at me with wide, innocent eyes. “Please, may I have it, Daddy?” she whispers quietly enough that only I can hear.
I reward her with a smile and a wink before I hand her the mug. “Both hands so you don’t spill. I probably should have put it in a sippy cup.”
Her already pink cheeks go even brighter as she takes a sip. When she doesn’t argue or deny needing a sippy cup, I take it as confirmation that she’s not against using one.
“Are you Little girls having fun?” Jaxon asks.
Leah bobs her head and grins. “Yep. We gave one of the snowmen a penis.”
Both Jaxon and Colt start coughing while Austin barks out a laugh, and I stare at Summer in shock. Meanwhile, Silas hops off the porch to go inspect the snowman.
“Did you make it comparable to Jaxon? Because if so, there might be some tools to help your Daddy out,” Silas says.
Jaxon scowls and flips him off while the women burst into fits of giggles.
“No! Daddy’s penis is much bigger,” Leah says proudly.
“Jesus, Leah. They don’t need to know that,” Jaxon scolds.
She shrugs and grins. “Sorry, Daddy. He’s the one who asked.”
“Every time we tried to make it bigger, it kept falling apart. That’s why it’s so small. Aw, do you think the snowwoman is sad that it’s so small?” Greer asks.
