Arrow of Time by Lina Andersson Read Free Book Online Page B

day after, regretting pretty much every single word I'd said the night before, which, due to me not shutting up, meant quite a few words and conversations to obsess about.
    “About Dawg...” he started, and he looked uncomfortable.
    That was when I figured out how he viewed me. I was his wife's sister, sure. But I was a much younger sister, and he was actually quite a lot older than her, too. Or 'just old' as Eliza had put it. I wasn't even that much older than his own sons. So if I interpreted it right, I was a younger female family member. I didn't think he really viewed me as a daughter, we didn't know each other well enough for that, but if we ever got really close, that would be what I was and how he'd act towards me. And now he was worried. It was kind of cute. Not that I'd tell him that. I didn't think Brick was gonna take it all that well if I called him cute. I was also a bit fed up with everyone asking me about Dawg. So I took a swing, verbally at least.
    “He was cool,” I said, looking innocently into my glass. “Is he seeing someone?”
    Brick coughed and I managed to hold my facade for a few seconds and then I laughed.
    “I'm kidding. I got it, Brick. They all warned me.”
    “ Good. Would hate to break your heart by telling you he was seeing everyone, more often than not two at a time.”
    “ Like two at a time in the bed?”
    “ Like that.”
    “ Greedy boy.”
    “ You've got no idea.”
    I laughed. “Either way. I got that and no worries. I think Lanie had a go at him just for talking to me.” Before he had time to open his mouth I held up my hand. “And I know he doesn't 'just talk' to chicks, but he wasn't exactly hitting on me, it was more force of habit-hitting while being quite nice.”
    “Okay. Good.”
    “ And the rest were nice, too. A few more force of habit hits, but nothing you need to work yourself up over. Like I told Lanie, I'm a big girl, I know how to spot 'em.”
    Brick gave me another one of those sweet smiles. “You're the only one calling her Lanie.”
    “Old thing,” I shrugged. “I wasn't always the only one. Not sure I can get used to Mel.”
    “ Shouldn't. She's Lanie to you.”
    We were out of cookies and we were both a bit too old to just sit around sipping milk. And it was also late; I was tired.
    “I'm gonna go to bed and let you enjoy the silence for a while longer.”
    He nodded. “Night, girl.”
    I stood up and was just about to leave when I turned around.
    “ Thanks, Brick. For all of this, really making an effort to make me feel welcome and all that.”
    “ You're welcome,” he simply said, and I appreciated that. That he didn't throw me the 'you're family' thing. It made it more obvious that he understood that I really was grateful and let me express my gratitude.
    I woke up with a jerk when I felt someone climbing into my bed. It was Eliza.
    “Can I sleep here?” she whispered.
    I had no idea how to handle this, but finally I just nodded and lifted the cover for her to get under it. She curled up, facing me, and popped her thumb in her mouth, closing her eyes. Again, I wasn't sure what to do. Luckily, she was. With her thumb still in her mouth and eyes closed, she said;
    “You're supposed to put your arm around me.”
    “ Oh. Okay,” I said and did it.
    “ Can you make pancakes for breakfast tomorrow?” she whispered.
    “ Hate to break it to you, sweetie, but I can't cook at all.”
    She looked a bit disappointed and sighed. “Not even scrambled eggs?”
    “I could try.”
    “ Okay. Night, Edie.”
    “ Night, baby girl.”
    I pulled the small, warm body closer and shoved my nose into her hair. With a satisfied sigh, she moved even closer. It was kinda comfy, so I soon fell asleep with the sweet-smelling girl next to me.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE:
    Who Knocked Him Out?
     
     
     
    -o0o-
     
    Wednesday, April 11 th
     
    “HONEY, PLEASE USE THE fork,” Mel said with a tired voice, and Brick had to bite his cheeks to