Page 63 of Psychotic Nightmares

Me:

Will do, I promise we’ll

comesee you both soon.

I love you too.

A few more minutes pass with everyone relishing the silence. But not me, nope. I can’t relax until I have the potatoes peeled, cut and parboiling in the pan!

Am I about to have a crash out over some potatoes? Yes I am. My whole schedule will be off if I don’t get them in on time!

“PEA!” Grace exclaims when the door opens. “You call me that once more time and I will ban you from movie nights.”

Peacock actually stops in her tracks, mouth agape as if Grace just told her that she’s going to take away all of her weapons and leave her deserted on an island somewhere. “You wouldn’t dare?”

“Wouldn’t I?” Grace smiles sweetly and plops the tray down onto the coffee table. Pea drops to her knees in front of Grace and begs her not to ban her from their treasured movie nights.

“What do you reckon she called her?” Gustin questions.

“Grammy.” Bull chuckles, resulting in both women looking across to him. “Oh I heardeverything.” He winks. Pea burns bright red and runs out of the room, quickly followed by a laughing Grace.

“Okay. Now I need to know what was said.” Dante quips.

“Nope.” Bull shakes his head. “You ain’t getting a word from me. I do, however, need to go and sort a brat out.”

“And I need to sort the spuds out.”

I’m partway into peeling and cutting up the potatoes when Dante comes in, holding baby Nattie-Grace.

“How are you feeling about next week?” He asks.

“Dude.” I look around the door into the living room. Empty.

“Gustin is putting Anya to bed and then said he’s going to shower. The other three are still doing God knows what, all I can hear is Grace laughing and Pea grumbling about something like always.” He shrugs.

I finish cutting up the spud I was working on then start peeling the next. “So fucking scared.” I admit.

“Same.” He nods. “But we made a promise.”

“I intend to keep it. You don’t need to worry about that.” I sigh. “I can’t lose you, any of you.”

“I know. I can’t lose you either, man.” He shuffles the baby onto one arm and places a hand on my back. “I love you, Julian. Always have, always will. We may fight and argue, but that’s just what brothers do. And in the end, I will always be your ride or die.”

“Same to you,” I smile. “But if she does pick you, I will kill you if you hurt her. No need to give me the same threat. I already know.” He grins back, rocking slightly on his heels to calm a whimpering Nattie-Grace.

“I thought about what you said.” Dante says in a hushed tone

“I say a lot of things, dude,” I chuckle. “So what sentence was it?”

“What you said that night.” I nod, and my heart sinks all over again. “I agree with you.” My hands start trembling, “I agree with everything you said. But I’m not sure if Grace will be so willing.”

Little does he know. I smile to myself. Dante acknowledges my crazy idea and likes it, and I know Grace does too.

Best. Christmas. Ever.

Nattie-Grace quietens down with Dante still rocking her. “You’ve always been so good with the kids. I’m almost jealous.” I admit. I have always wanted children myself, but with my job and my past I’ve always found it hard to commit to someone. Until Grace came along. But even then I couldn’t bring myself to do anything physical with her, not because of her scars or her looks. She is beautiful no matter what in my eyes. But because I know that once she finds out how fucked up I am, once she realises my alter ego exists,she will leave. I thought I would be single for the rest of my life, my whole life, until I met my treasure. She didn’t leave, she stayed even though I was being such a massive fucking creep.

Then I find out she’s in love with my best friend too.