Page 138 of Her Ex-Husband's Brother

Priscilla laughs while I stand up and pull him into my arms, then swing him around and around, which makes his giggles shriek off the walls of the waiting room. The few other people waiting don’t seem to mind, though; there are only smiles sent our direction. A happy kid is different from an upset shrieking one, I’ve found.

When I finally set Owen’s feet on the ground again, he’s immediately jumping up and down. “More, Daddy! More!”

Priscilla stands up. “Okay, baby. You know we were just stopping in to say hi to Daddy. You’ll see him again, soon.”

“I don’t wanna go. I don’t wanna! I don’t wanna!”

I smile. “Uh oh. I think he just found his new favorite phrase. At least it wasn’t me that taught it to him this time.”

Priscilla pretends to glare at me this time, but she can’t hold it after she picks up Owen, because he’s back to his happy chatter.

Priscilla hikes Owen up on her hip. “Whoa, big guy,” she says. “You’re almost getting too big for this.”

“Not too big,” Owen proclaims. “I’m a baby!”

And he leans his head on her shoulder.

Oh, kid, I get it. And I want him to be able to stay a kid as long as fucking possible. Priscilla rubs his back and gives him a kiss on the top of his head. “You’ll always be my baby. And you’ll still learn to walk on your two big-boy legs, honey.”

“I don’t wanna!”

She laughs into his hair and gives me a wave with a roll of her eyes. “I did it to myself,” she sighs and picks his bag up, putting it over her shoulder.

“Scilla,” I say before she turns to go. “You’re a great mom. Owen’s really lucky.”

“He is to have a great Dad like you. I think this kid’s gonna turn out all right.” She gives me one last nod then sets a complaining Owen down, reminding him he’s got big-boy legs now.

He reiterates the fact that he’s a baby, and they chatter back and forth about it as he skips all the way back down the hall.

Just then, the day nurse comes out and calls my name.

I jump to my feet and hurry over. “I’m August.”

She smiles at me. “Lennon has been asking for you.”

“She’s awake?”

“Awake and doing well. After two days of medicine, she’s feeling a lot better. I bet it would do wonders for her to see a friendly face after all she’s been through.”

“Can I go in?”

“Just follow me.”

THIRTY-SIX

LENNON

August lookslike roadkill by the time the nurse, Nora, brings him back to my room. Tall, handsome, swoony roadkill, but still. There are dark circles under his eyes like he hasn’t slept a minute since the crash two days ago.

“Lennon!” He rushes over to my hospital bed and reaches for my hand, immediately withdrawing when he sees the IV port in my hand.

I weakly lift my other hand. Because dammit, I know there’s nothing more healing in the universe than August’s touch.

Everyone looks at August and sees danger.

They see the tattoos, the size of him, and the diagnosis his family has weaponized since he was a teenager.

They look at Jake and see polo shirts and a white picket fence.