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She understood, even if she kneas impossible No one came out a winner where Nana Sloane was concerned Kylie nodded "I’ll see what I can do Is she okay otherwise?"

"Other than the usual ailments that an elderly demented woman has? Sure She’s unhappy when she’s lucid, she’s confused when she’s not, and she frightens the other patients"

"Sounds great" She gri at the other residents "What about today?"

"Today was a bad day," the attendant said "She’s heavily sedated at the moment, but if you stick around for a few hours--"

"I can’t," Kylie said, relieved to hear that there wouldn’t be a messy confrontation Not today "I’ll just pop in to see her and go"

The man nodded and opened the door "Let me knohen you’re ready to leave and I’ll take you back out"

Kylie stepped into her grandht of responsibility on her shoulders The room was utterly silent and clean A picture of Kylie’sdeceased, was next to the bed There was no picture of Kylie’s father, or of Kylie But that didn’t surprise her--she’d never been Nana Sloane’s favorite person

You’re a burden, Kylie Daniels I have to work two jobs just to put enough food on the table to feed your fat ass The least you can do is be grateful If only your mother were here

She squelched the hateful randmother’s bed and took the woile and so utterly small in her own, her skin dry like paper

"Hi, Nana," Kylie whispered "I hope you’re doing well I just got a job going on tour, so I’ to be able to visit much for a few months" Not that her nana noticed if Kylie was there or not Most days she was lost in her own hter Kylie rubbed her fingers against her nana’s palood news is that you’re all paid up andtime I know you don’t like it at this place, but they have the best care They really do I’ to make sure that you’re taken care of It’sto shirk it" She pressed her one, okay?"

She held her grandht and worried about burdens and faht of responsibility Nana Sloane didn’t wake up It wasn’t a bad thing When Nana was asleep, she was peaceful Al nasty words at Kylie, screa uncontrollably Kylie could deal with the snide coht She could deal with the jabs about her hair, or her slutty clothing But when Nana wept as if her heart was broken, her dreams shattered? It nearly broke Kylie, too

Thankfully, her nana’s lined face re at the corners of her ood for her, though It helped Kylie focus Made her deterht hate touring and never having a place to call her own, but as long as her nana was safe and looked after, well, that was all Kylie could ask for She’d been a burden to the woer years, and noas Kylie’s time to return the favor

No matter how much it sucked the life out of her

TWO

If Cade Archer could have predicted how he’d spend his thirtieth birthday, he’d have only been part right Surrounded by the Brotherhood, the secret society he’d been in since college? Check Playing a hand of poker in a s on cigars and discussing business strategies as usual?

Not soa sonograot a dick like a baby’s arm"

Griffin Verdi picked up the photo and squinted at it "You sure that’s not, in fact, the baby’s arar¸ looking quite pleased with hi some major heat"

Griffin rolled his eyes and tossed the picture back down Undeterred, Reese snatched it up and offered it to Hunter "So when are you and Gretchen thinking about children?"

"Maybe next year," Hunter said, studying the photo "After the wedding"