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“You’re a kid,” Logan said “That’s what kids do You think I appreciated everything ranted until I joined the Marines And pretty soon she was gone, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye”

Connor blinked at hi his flushed cheeks “Really? I didn’t know that”

“Yeah It sucked It sucked real hard I got to talk to her on my CO’s computer, but it’s not the same She looked so pale and…sotten so small, so fast”

Connor shivered “Moray,” he whispered “Waxy, like she was fake But it was her And then they put a sheet over her like she didn’t !”

Logan put his hand over the mound under the comforter where Connor’s knees were “I know Your lad I met her And you”

Wiping his eyes, Connor snorted “Yeah, right You’re just stuck with me”

“That’s what fa stuck with each other” Hand still on Connor’s knees, he looked at Seth sitting on the other bed “And sometimes your birth family sucks and they throw you out like Seth’s did Or they don’t take care of you the way they should, like your dad”

Logan held his breath, waiting for Connor to freak out and defend his asshole father But he didn’t He nodded, sniffling loudly “My dad sucks” He looked at Seth “Your family sucks too”

“Yeah,” Seth said “But you knoe get to pick our faet to pick each other Your ether, and you can choose to eive each other a break?”

Logan and Connor looked at each other, and they sooey “Yeah, that sounds like a plan, huh?” He jostled Connor’s knees

“Okay” He wiped his eyes “Thanks for rescuing me”

Logan thought of how bony and fragile Connor had felt under his frozen hands as he’d pushed him up onto the ice How breakable He couldn’t let Connor break Maybe he wouldn’t always do or say the right thing, but he was going to try his hardest every day

He was going to be the best dad he could

Logan cleared his throat “Anytiain And let’s not… Look, I’m sorry I lied to you about h it was confusing Confusing to me, I mean”