Always

statement. I am dead on my feet. I dive to the couch as soon as I'm home. Judging by t

ngs on the

" Michael's face

." I prop a cushi

u b

he p. "Just got

y best cousin in the world." I roll my eyes. "And to remind you t

isn't what I am hoping, right, Mike?" I try to pull my meanest face to threa

funny,"

an face, you je

don't have one mean bone in your body, Bry.

an to me, your best cousin, when your job is fixing b

or screamed at him when I was 9, or kicked his shin when I was 12, or ignored him

nna try to visit before my next assignment. Just d

work, but it's starting to take its toll on him. "That's great, Mike. I really hope you

b and Aunt Rose, yeah? And tell Ad to pick his goddamn phone the

he screen, I say, "

the lin

congratulated me on my birthday, I

*

, the last meeting was taking more time than I thought, forcing me t

g in my bones, I'm so ecstat

, sugar?" She pours a tall glass of water. "You want that weird thing you

hungry. And, while you're at it, can I get Tony's super duper speci

And your body. Where the heck was all those go anyway? And to

T, am I right? And I'm sure if you look clos

I look behind me to Linc who is walkin

y feel ..

Tris points at m

e mumbles throug

d sugar and I was just asking her where all those demons go. You know I have to s

her. "What are you doing here

ung man. I'll watch my mouth if I were you." And then off she go, leaving m

ckson?" he repeats, enunciating the ni

e tha

is six foot something looming over me.

om me, crosses his arms and then, si

is he

e to deserve this kind of treatment fro

st gr

ore si

r Tris to bring my food soon

ll sit there watching me while I eat

awkwa

box to take the food h

es my fo

lare at Lincoln's way. He, of course, ignores her. "Th

. He pulls a fifty out of his wallet and gives t

on't give me a chance to process before he grabs my forea

ust manh

rip doesn't hurt. His touch is surpris

elieve he m

ndertha

arking lot, ready to rip him a new one. Hurt or not,

on, trying so hard to contain

u home. You shouldn't be L

hadle me to your car. What i

ister get back to her apartment safely." He unlocks his c

ve of t

tand my ground. He looks back at me as steady. We do this sta

ks his

now I lose this

before charging to the passenger door

u

Damn his ro

st acted like a pe

like I care?

upper lip tugs at its side. Lincoln bites his

ght st

a smile

u

*