Page 14 of Summer Holiday Lifeline

“Well, if it gets better, we can revisit.”

“Yes, mom.”

“You’re in pain, Myles.”

“And it will pass. It’s not that bad.”

“Do you have something for it?”

Myles glared at him. “Backbone.”

Lucky made a face right back. “It’s a legit question. And you don’t have to suffer in silence. Not here.”

“I don’t have meds. Nothing worked that was safe for me to take, so yeah. I suffer.”

“You tell me when you’re hurting so I can help. That is why you came here, isn’t it? For help? So let me help.”

“Can’t make it hurt less.” Myles dropped onto the edge of the nearest bed with a groan, then dug fingers into the offending hip.

“A hot soak will help, won’t it?”

“Probably.”

“Then do that.”

“Shelly—”

“Is just fine with her brother. And there are three of us down there besides him. We can keep an eye on her. If we lose one six-year-old on the first day, we’re in trouble.”

“Six-and-a-half.”

Lucky grinned at him. “Six-and-a-half. She’ll be fine. Take a moment for you.”

“Jet will have an absolute cow when he realizes he’s been abandoned to look after his sister. He’s already pissed I dragged him all the way out here.”

“So let him. He’s a teenager. He’s going to think the entire world is about him and also hates him for a few years still.”

“Lucky, he just lost his mom. Be gentle with him.”

“And you just lost your sister. Who’s being gentle with you? Not a sixteen-year-old emo brat.”

“He’s not a brat. He’s scared and angry. He and Natalie were close. It hurt him, her not telling him she was dying. That wasn’t fair of her.”

“No, it wasn’t. And it wasn’t fair of her to make you promise to keep her secret. It wasn’t fair of her not to tell them what would happen to them after she was gone. And it wasn’t fair of her to leave you to look after them.”

“I’m the only one she had. I don’t mind. I would have offered if she hadn’t asked. I probably would have fought to be their guardian if she’d left them to someone else. They’re my family. Of course I’m going to look after them.”

“Of course you are. Tomorrow. Right now, let us fill in the gap and look after you for one minute.”

“You are relentless.”

Lucky grinned.

God, Myles had missed that grin. Familiar tightness wrapped around his chest. That grin was trouble. It always ended with Myles freaking out and Lucky laughing at him while they both bled.

“Don’t do that,” he warned, shaking a finger at Lucky.

“Do what?”