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Which is why she needed to fix the fucked-up mess that was her brain.
He held on tight for a bit longer, then he drew back. His eyes looked haunted and he blinked rapidly.
She hated that. Hated that look on his face.
“I’m all right. Everything will be fine. I promise. Turns out I’m a bit messed up in the head, but we already knew that, right?”
Brooks drew back to glare at her. “Do not say stuff like that, Effie. I don’t like it. You’re not messed up in the head.”
She gave him a shocked look. Although she shouldn’t have been surprised by his words. Brooks was definitely his father’s son. And Joe had also been a dominant man.
“Okay, honey. I won’t. But I don’t want you worrying. We’ll be okay, you and I.”
“Course we will,” he said with more confidence than she had. But that was the beauty of being sixteen with your life ahead of you. “Because I’m quitting school and taking care of you.”
“Nope.”
“Aunt Effie—”
“I told you, Brooks. I need you to get a good job so you can take care of me in my old age.”
“And I need to take care of you now. Auntie, you’re paralyzed.”
“Nope. Doc said I wasn’t. I just need to get my brain sorted out. I’m sure that will only take a day or so. Although I might need some help getting out of here. I don’t need to be here racking up a hospital bill.”
She tried to shift over, to get her legs to damn well work . . . but they didn’t.
What the hell was wrong with her?
“You don’t need to worry about the hospital bill because it’s covered by your job.”
Relief flooded her as Grady stepped into the room. She hadn’t noticed him lingering in the doorway.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
She had to hold back her tears of relief.
Nothing could happen to Grady. Or Damon.
Pull yourself together, Effie. No one needs to see you fall apart.
“You’re all right,” she whispered.
His gaze softened. “Of course I am, sweetheart. I might be a bit sore tomorrow, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“No pains? No headaches? Did they run some tests?”
“They were all fine. I promise.”
Okay. Now she could finally breathe a bit easier.
Steele walked in, his gaze even more intense than Grady’s had been. He leaned over her, kissing her lightly on the head. “Baby. Fuck. I’ve been so worried about you.”
Oh no.
She hated the thought of worrying him.
“I’m all right.”
