“We’re gonna take off,” Draco announced, wrapping his arm around Kara.
“I can come back tomorrow,” Kara told Teddy. “And help unpack, if you want?”
“Thanks,” Teddy replied. “It’s not much. I think we can manage.”
My brother and Kara said their goodbyes and left, but all I could think about was Teddy’s comment. They reallydidn’thave much. In the back of the truck, it had looked like a lot, but once it was unloaded and was only taking up a tiny portion of the living room, the reality became clear. The only piece of furniture they’d brought with them was an old twin-size bed frame.
The living room was silent once the front door closed behind Kara. Dylan had dropped into my recliner, and Isla sat on the arm. Teddy was looking down at the boxes, but her eyes wereunfocused. Finn was busy looking at each of us like he was waiting for someone to speak, while Jesse fidgeted.
“I’m going to find my sleeping bag,” Jesse finally announced. “Come on, Finn. I’ll help you find yours.”
“Did you get my pillow?” he asked them as he turned and followed without complaint. It was clear that those were their roles. They argued, but Jesse was the leader, and Finn followed. They were more like another parent than a sibling.
“I carried it up first thing,” Jesse replied, ruffling Finn’s short hair as they started up the stairs.
“Dad,” Dylan called, making me turn back toward the living room.
“You’re sleepin’ in the recliner,” I told Dylan, cutting him off. “Isla can take your bed upstairs.”
“That’s stupid. We’ve been together—”
“Don’t give a flyin’ fuck what you were doin’ on your ride here. You two are not sharin’ a bed in my house.”
“Oh, so now you’re concerned if we’re sleepin’ together?” he shot back. We’d had the condom discussion months after he and Isla started dating when I realized they were spending a whole lot of timedriving aroundin Dylan’s truck. I thought then, and I still thought now, that there wasn’t a whole lot I could do to stop them, and I wanted them to be smart about it. But that sure as fuck didn’t mean that they’d be sleeping together in my boy’s bedroom.
“Were you under the impression that this was a discussion?” I asked curiously. “Because it isn’t. This ain’t a democracy. Isla, you’re in Dylan’s room. Dylan, you’re on the fuckin’ recliner or the floor down here.”
“This is bullshit,” Dylan mumbled.
“I’m gonna go help the kids,” Teddy said, not looking at anyone as she moved toward the stairs. I didn’t blame her for escaping. Hell, I didn’t even want to be part of the discussion.
Dylan scowled at Teddy’s back. “So you can have some random woman in your bed, but—”
“Dylan,” I barked, so fucking done with his shit. “Enough.”
“Stop, Dyl,” Isla murmured quietly as she stood up. “It’s fine. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You’re goin’ upnow?” he asked in disbelief.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she repeated, scooting around me. “Night, Mr. Harrison.”
“Night, Isla.”
I watched Dylan until I couldn’t hear her on the stairs anymore.
“You fucked up,” I told him quietly.
“She’s—”
“Nope,” I cut him off. “You don’t get to talk right now. I’m talkin’ now. You fucked up, Dyl. Huge. That girl’s parents are probably outta their minds with worry.”
“She talked to them,” he replied defensively.
“Before she went?” I asked. His silence was answer enough. “Yeah, that’s what I fuckin’ thought. Jesus.”
“She called them when we got here.”
“Well, brace, kid,” I snapped. “Because I guarantee you that they’ll be here by tomorrow mornin’.”
