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“Not happening.”
“Please,” I beg, sliding my fingers between his. I don’t want him to find out about the crap at school. It’s embarrassing.
“Fine,” he reluctantly agrees, giving me a sliver of hope.
CHAPTER15
DUNCAN
“What wereyou doing in Sadie’s room?” Uncle Coop asks me as we clean up the kitchen. Sadie was nearly falling asleep over the pork chops, so Fischl took her upstairs to bed. I wanted to be the one to tuck her in, but since I’m supposed to be keeping our thing between us, I helped clear the table. Van took off immediately, and Uncle Coop shooed Sebastian away, saying it was quality time for Coop and me. Obviously, quality time means interrogation time.
“What do you mean?” I play dumb.
“You were in her room before dinner. I saw you coming out of it.”
“Creeping about, old man?”
“Gotta stay up on what’s happening with you guys,” he says with an unrepentant shrug.
“We were supposed to meet for lunch, but I couldn’t make it, so I was apologizing.”
That explanation seems to satisfy him. He whistles tunelessly for a couple measures and hangs up the dish towel. “I don’t want to be the bad guy, but?—”
“Then don’t,” I say tersely. I don’t want a lecture.
“Look, son?—”
“I’m not your son.” I slap down the washrag.
“Thought we were over that,” Coop says. His own tone is short.
Anger bubbles inside me. Anger at my parents for dying when I was a baby. Anger at Van being Coop’s real son. Anger that Sadie is viewed as my cousin when I didn’t even know her two months ago. Anger that she was in a car accident, my biggest nightmare. Anger at myself for being afraid. Anger at this idea that my feelings for Sadie are something that need to be hidden, kept in the dark. My hands fist, and my throat closes. Just when I’m about to explode, Coop grabs the back of his neck and sighs.
“Dunc, this situation is so wild. I don’t blame you for having all sorts of negative feelings, but let’s not fight. It’s been you and me against the world since you were a baby, and I know I haven’t been the best parent to you. What do I know about being a dad, right? But I wouldn’t give up a day with you for anyone. For anyone, do you hear me?”
I hear what he’s saying. What he can’t put into words. I don’t want him to say it out loud either because I understand what Van’s going through. He’s displaced just like me. I ease back and nod. “Fine but just know this. Sadie’s not related to me.”
Coop makes a face. “I don’t know why you keep saying that, and I don’t want to know, but I will say this one thing. Don’t make Fischl unhappy. I can’t bear that.”
If he had said it would have pissed him off or he’d be after my ass, I might have gotten mad again, but when he sighed like he was half broken-hearted, I let the last of my anger go. “I don’t plan on making anyone unhappy.”
“Great. We’re on the same page.” Under his breath, I hear him mutter something about Van. That’s a situation he’s going to have to work out. Van and I are like oil and water, and I know that when he finds out about me and Sadie, there’s going to be fireworks. And probably a little blood.
“Going to my room now.”
He waves me off. One kid down, one kid to go, he’s thinking.
I hoof it up the stairs and do a pre-bed routine, but this time I shave the stubble that’s pebbling my chin. Sadie’s a soft girl with soft skin. I need to watch out for her. I grab some sweats and a hoodie and make my way to her room. She’s a motionless lump under the covers. I toss my clothes to the side, plug my phone in, and climb into bed. She makes a soft sound and rolls toward me. Gently, I push her until she’s lying on her back again, her slinged arm lying across her chest. I slide my arm under her head and draw her close until her side is flush with my front. One soft leg slips between mine, and she turns to rub her cold nose against my biceps.
“Dunc?” she murmurs.
“The one and only.” I stroke a hand down her T-shirt-covered side, careful to avoid touching her arm.
“What time is it?” She tries to turn over, but I keep her still.
“Time to keep sleeping.”
“Why are you here?”
