Page 14 of Rule 5: Never Crush on the Captain

After a few minutes, Vinnie reappears. “I’m putting Dr. Novak on speaker.”

“Okay.”

“Hello, Evan.” Dr. Novak speaks to me, and we decide to call again in the morning. Maybe some more sleep will make me feel better.

I brush my teeth, then tumble back into my bed.

Vinnie slides the cover over me.

“I don’t need to be tucked in,” I mumble.

“I’ll refrain from telling you a bedtime story.”

“You already did. Where did you learn how to do voices?”

Vinnie chuckles. “I’ll be right back.”

I blink. “I’m fine now.”

Vinnie appears again, hauling a mattress over his shoulders.

I frown half-heartedly. “You’re rearranging my furniture.”

“Sorry.” Vinnie sets the mattress down. “You have company tonight.”

“Not necessary,” I mumble, but I close my eyes, and as I fall asleep, it occurs to me that I am grateful he’s here.

“DADDY!” STELLA’S SQUEALpierces the room, and my eyes jolt open.

She scampers through the room, then lurches onto my bed.

A deep chuckle sounds from somewhere below me. A chuckle that normally is not there.

Then a male torso rises. Why is Vinnie on my floor? And this version of Vinnie—tousled hair, raspy voice is definitely unfamiliar.

I blink, then remember last night.

Vinnie clambers off the mattress easily. “He’s sleeping, Stella.”

I scowl at his looming, mountainous figure. “Not anymore.”

Vinnie snorts, then crouches down toward Stella. “Want me to make some breakfast?”

She frowns. “I like Daddy’s breakfast.”

His gaze slides onto me. “He’s some cook, huh?”

“He makes great waffles,” Stella declares.

“Fancy. He’s been holding out on me.”

“I toast them,” I admit.

“I think I can manage that,” Vinnie says. “Or we can do something else.”

Stella looks at Vinnie skeptically. “You were sleeping in Daddy’s room.”

Vinnie rakes his hand through his hair, and his cheeks are a ruddy color.