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“Whatever. Jennifer Grey was, and is, a babe. And Swayze was a god in that movie.”
“Nobody puts Castle in the corner,” I grunt in a truly terrible Patrick Swayze impression.
Castle rolls his eyes and tosses a throw pillow at me as I crack up.
“Hey, before you try and sneak upstairs again…”
I swallow. “I wasn’t trying to sn—”
“You do realize it’s impossible to tiptoe past an Army Ranger, right?”
I make a face. “I just wasn’t feeling social.”
The smile fades from his face. “The Brooks thing, huh?”
I look back to the credits ofSay Anythingscrolling across the screen, my teeth clenching a little tighter as I nod.
“It’s a no,” Castle grunts. “I mean, it’s aneasyno. Like, fuck that little douchebag. I didn’t like him when you guys went out, and I can’t imagine he’s done anything but become an evenmoreinsufferable piece of shit since then.”
For a second, I try to imagine how Castle would react if he knew the depths of my hatred for Brooks, and the reasons for it.
Yikes.
I shrug, the “good, loyal Eilish” mask slipping easily back into place, like a bad habit I can’t break.
“I don’t know. It could be hugely beneficial to us. To the family, I mean.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I glance over to see a dark look etched across Castle’s face.
“What is it?”
He sighs. “I just…” he shakes his head. “I just feel like I’m letting you down. Like I’vealreadylet you down. You and Neve both. I mean I was supposed to protect you guys. And first she goes off and gets herself arrange-married to our enemy, and now you’re seriously considering marrying some snotty little douchebag for the political clout it would give our family.”
I grin. “I thought you liked Ares now.”
“Oh, I do. Obviously.”
“Is it the fact that he saved Neve’s life, or that he hooks you up with Dimitra Drakos’ baklava on a weekly basis? Be honest.”
Castle snorts and rolls his eyes before frowning. “Seriously, this Brooks situation—”
“You’re not my protector anymore, Castle,” I say quietly.
He glances back to me. “I’ll always be your protector, Blondie.”
I grin.
“Hey, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But…” he frowns. “Whydidyou and Brooks split up? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I hated the little shit. But you two seemed pretty serious for a month or—”
“It just didn’t work out,” I say quickly. I don’t know if Castle buys it or not, but he lets it go with a nod.
“All right,” I yawn as I stand. “I’m going up to bed. Night, love ya.”
“Love ya too, kid.”
As much as I wanted to disappear and avoid people when I first got home, it was a nice reprieve from my thoughts to hang with Neve and Ares, and then have movie time with Castle.
But the minute I’m upstairs in my room, alone, the darkness and the dread swirls back in from every side. Like it’s been just lurking there, waiting to consume me again.
