Page 157 of Halo

“At the hospital. Grown-ups never think I'm listening.”

Letting out a heavy breath, I sit on the edge of his bed. “Look at me, partner. I'm always going to be your dad.”

“But are you my real, real dad?”

“Maybe not the way we thought.” My throat tightens. “But none of that changes how much I love you. Nothing.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Pinky promise?”

I hold out my pinky. “Pinky promise.”

He hooks his little finger around mine.

“Is that okay if I'm your dad?”

He gives me a big lopsided smile before eagerly nodding his head.

I push back his hair, giving his forehead a kiss. “Remember, if you need me, in right down the hall—”

“And you're coming back.” He grins

“That's right. Always.”

I head toward the door, giving a small whistle for Angus to follow.

“Can he stay with me, Dad?”

I hesitate.

Angus has taken to Grady like he was born to protect him, but they’ve known each other all of three hours, and leaving my five-year-old alone with a dog strong enough to overpower him makes me sick to my stomach.

Angus looks up at me longingly.

“Maybe another night, partner, once you two know each other a little better. C'mon, Angus.”

After mean-mugging me, he lopes out of the room.

“Night, partner.” I leave Grady’s door cracked and stand there for a second, listening to him settle beneath his blankets.

By the time I make it down the hall, exhaustion has seeped into every part of me.

Leah steps out of my bathroom, drying her hands on her jeans. “Hey.” She studies my face. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I scrub a hand over my jaw. “I guess.”

“How’s Grady?”

“I think he’s okay.”

She nods. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” I lean against the wall. “Honestly, I just want to breathe for a second and just exist. I'm so tired of feeling everything.”

“Okay.” Her mouth tips into a tired little smile. “Tell me where, and if I’m allowed, I'll follow.”