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“And that’s the end of storytime, thank you very much,” Alex announces, placing Gianna’s fresh coffee in front of her. “Did you do anything useful like bringing breakfast?”
“Breakfast? It’s lunchtime, Alexander.”
“I’m healing and allowed a lie in.”
“Oh, so you two managed to get some sleep then.”
“Are you here to cause me pain or embarrass my girl?”
“I’m here for neither,” she says with a smile.
“Could have fooled me,” Alex mutters, returning to the kitchen for our coffees.
“How are you feeling?” Gianna asks him. “I see you took my advice about not getting those wet,” she says, eyeing the soaked bandages that cover most of his arms.
“When have you ever known me to follow the rules?”
She shakes her head, watching him with nothing but love in her eyes.
“Evie’s moving in,” he informs her.
“You say that like I didn’t see it coming,” she deadpans, and I swear her eyes drop to my left hand.
“Not yet,” Alex says, clearly seeing the same thing. “But I will,” he promises, making my breath catch.
“Are you two trying to age me before my time? I’m not old enough to be a mother of the bride or a grandmother.”
“Then I guess it’s a good job you only need to worry about one of those for a while, Granny.”
“Pfft, I am not a granny and you know it.”
“Grams? Nanna?” he teases.
“What did you say earlier about me coming here to hurt you?” she asks darkly.
“Shall we get it over with before I give you any more ammunition?” Alex asks, pushing from where he was perched on the arm of the sofa I’m sitting on.
“Let’s see how much damage you’ve done then,” she says, joining him on his feet and gesturing toward his bedroom.
“Evie, if I scream, call social services.”
“You’re eighteen, kid. They don’t care anymore,” Gianna warns as she grabs her supply bag and takes off ahead of him.
“Good luck,” I say, accepting his kiss before he disappears.
I sip my coffee as their voices float down to me, and I can’t help but smile as their teasing continues.
There was a moment in the shower when I thought Alex was going to lose the fight with his insecurities over his arms.
I can’t imagine how he’s feeling. He’s barely seen the damage beneath the bandages. Most of the times Gianna has changed them, he was out of it. I’m pretty sure she did that for his benefit, aware of his fears.
“Evie, help me,” he calls with a laugh.
Unable to sit here just listening, I take my mug and wander toward the bedroom.
“Aw, is Mummy hurting my baby?” I tease, resting my hip against the doorframe as I watch them.
Alex sits on the edge of the bed, Gianna resting on one knee beside him, inspecting his cuts.
