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I shoved the crust in my mouth to avoid the conversation. Patiently, he helped Blake eat. Even cleaned his face and hands when he was finished.
“We’re going up. Does he need a bath?”
“We’re not staying.”
“You definitely are,” he said, glazing right over my protest.
“Patrick.”
“Put the leftovers in the fridge and turn off the lights before you come upstairs.”
“What leftovers? And I’m not going upstairs.”
“The chair in my office isn’t all that comfortable unless you’ve consumed a shitload of whiskey. But you’ll feel it the next day.”
I finished off the slice of pizza I was working on and closed the box. Put it in the trash can. Turned off the lights.
And went upstairs.
Chapter Twenty
Patrick
“Remindme when we decide to have pizza together I need to order two.”
She stuck out her tongue at me, the gesture so carefree, I didn’t know what to do with it.
“I was hungry.”
“I’m not sure I could eat three-quarters of that pizza. And I’m twice your size.” I stabbed my toothbrush in my mouth.
“You’re an ass.”
“Shithead asshole fucker.”
She pointed at me. “Yes. That.”
A warbled question came out. She snatched the toothbrush from me and gave me a look to repeat, “Why were you so dirty?”
She shoved it back in my mouth and towel dried her hair. “None of your business.” Her eyes met mine in the mirror. “You don’t have to keep Blake tomorrow. I can figure it out.”
“I don’t mind. But Tuesday is a no-go. I have court.”
Her mouth twisted down. “He’s not your responsibility.” She spoke quietly.
The statement stung more than it should. She was technically right, but it didn’t feel that way.
“I like hanging out with the little guy. We get a lot done working together.” It was good for me to take breaks to play with him. I worked too hard. He gave me something else to think about. Something else to do. I could talk to him. And he really was no trouble.
“You sound like my dad.” Her face immediately fell.
“He seemed down tonight.” I bumped her hip with mine. “Just telling you. No guilt trip.”
“Why should I feel guilty when he’s in the wrong?” she asked, voice rising.
“Wicked, I have no idea what’s going on other than none of you are communicating very well with each other.”
I rinsed off the toothbrush. She grabbed it from my hand before I could place it in the holder and squeezed paste on the bristles.
