Page 118 of Dead Serious: Case 3 Mr Bruce Reyes

“Yes, well, he deserved it for giving me the best gift ever”—her mouth curves into a smirk—“and I’ll thank you to leave my balls out of it.”

“I’ve missed you,” Dusty says, blinking rapidly as Bruce hands her a ghostly tissue.

“I’ve missed you too.” Chan sniffles and I stretch over to hand her an actual tissue.

She crosses the kitchen to Dusty and, although they can’t touch, they start talking so rapidly I lose the thread of what they’re going on about. Bruce doesn’t seem to have much idea either, but he shoots me a happy grin and then settles in to watch the pair of them, an overabundance of love and affection for Dusty dancing in his dark eyes.

I settle back against Danny and continue to take turns feeding him and myself popcorn. I think back to everything that’s happened in the last few weeks, all the stress and worry, but strangely that seems to fade into the background, and I find myself thinking about the way Danny and Sam would bicker and rib each other good-naturedly. The way Harrison dropped everything he was doing to rush over and make sure my dad was safe, and yes, the way him and Sam continue to snipe at each other. I think of everyone from The Rainbow Room helping to move us in, and Chan and Dusty, who seem ecstatic to be able to communicate directly once more.

A warmth spreads through me, and my cheeks ache from smiling. I’m happy, right down to my core. Yeah, my life is weird as hell, but then I think about the loneliness I felt before and the people all this has brought into my life, the love and friendship, and honestly…

I don’t think I’d change a damn thing.