Page 61 of His Atonement

"Are you going to answers that?" He asks as my phone rings again. "Tiny Wayne must think it to be important to call more than once."

Too bad he doesn't know I have to ignore this and wait for the third call. Zan would probably rethink his last comment if he knew about all the shit that's wrong with me.

"Are you going to get up off the floor?"

He considers it for a minute before he grins. "Will you join me in the floor?"

"Will you give me the booze?"

"If I give you the booze will you join me in the floor?"

"You are absolutely ridiculous." But I'm smiling because now I'm entering into dangerous territory, territory where my heart might become even more invested in someone that drives me nuts while I only have maybe a few months left at most. "I will not join youinthe floor, but if you give me the booze I'll let you keep that pillow."

"No deal." Zan firmly nods then shakes his head. "You join me in the floor or I join you in the bed. It's your choice, but either way mys keep the boozey."

My phone rings again and Zan growls. "Why must tiny Wayne call you so much?" Then he narrows his eyes. "Are you fucking him?"

I bark out a laugh and almost fall off the bed. "Not that it's any of your business who I fuck, I'm not, and it isn't actually Lil Wayne calling, it's Allie."

I swipe my screen just as Zan goes upright super fast. "Do not tell her I am here."

"Why?" I hold my phone to my chest, muffle Allie's shouted greeting.

"They think I ams still in my dungeon and I want to keeps it that way."

"And you don't want anyone to know you're with me." I frown as my chest squeezes. "Hypocritical much?"

He shakes his head emphatically then brings his finger to his lips. "I ams hiding from the eldest dragon brother."

"You're fucking nuts."

"No, just trying not to speak with him until I sort through this mess and apologize for your acceptance."

I roll my eyes, and lift my phone. "Hey, sorry."

"Jesus, you are killing me with this not answering shit," Allie screeches. "Are you coming up for dinner or what? Everyone wants to see Thor."

Zan searches my eyes and even though he's wasted, I can tell how genuine he is in not wanting anyone to know he's not home.

Which is why I sigh and ditch my cousin.

"Not tonight, Al. I'm just gonna hang out at home alone, maybe binge a show or something. I'm not feeling very social."

"Frankie… "

"I'm fine, Allie. I'm almost totally out of my rut, I just want one more night alone and I'll make sure to bring Thor to the house with me for breakfast. Daisy will flip when she sees him."

"Ok, but you'd tell me if something else was going on, right?"

No, but I don't say that. "Yes, and I promise I just want to chill out tonight, smoke myself stupid and watch some Netflix."

"Ok. Text me if you need me."

"I will. Love you, Al."

"Love you too, Frank. See you in the morning."

I hang up with a sigh then frown at Zan's beautiful albeit lazy drunk smile. "What?"