Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“I’ll tell Matt to make sure he picks up Jonathan.” Flynn’s face softened as he spoke to Katy.

“Can I show him my new football book?”

“Course you can, monster. He might learn something. Go get it and I’ll keep an eye out for Jena. Hurry up; they’ll be here soon.”

Abby was happy to let Flynn talk. All of her words seemed to have dried up.

Katy whooped and ran at Flynn, her arms up wide. Without pausing, he lifted her to his chest. Katy put her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

“You’re the best, Flynn,” she said.

“I know. Now don’t forget to tell everybody.” And to Abby’s shock, he kissed Katy on the cheek before putting her on the floor. “Get moving. Time’s running out if you want to take the book with you.”

“And the DVD too,” Katy shouted as she ran full speed from the room.

Without a word, Abby walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pressed her cheek to his chest and counted his heartbeats as she waited for her mind to restart. Flynn held her without comment, gently stroking his hand down her back. There was no censure. He didn’t try to take over. He was just offering his strength. And she was eager to take it.

“I’m here.” Flynn pressed a kiss to her head.

Abby was pretty sure those words wouldn’t be reassuring to most people. For most people, Flynn’s presence was the harbinger of disaster. For her, he embodied security.

The back door opened and Jena walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Matt. The cousins shared a grim look.

“Take as long as you need.” Jena pulled Abby from Flynn to give her friend a hug. “Katy can always have a sleepover at our place if she needs to. Don’t worry about her. We’ll be fine. Just concentrate on sorting this out.”

“Thanks.” Abby squeezed her tight as Katy came running back into the room.

“Can we watch this?” She held out a DVD to Matt.

Matt grinned at her. “Highlights from the last World Cup? Sure you wouldn’t rather watch Winnie the Pooh?”

“No.” Katy shook her head. “I need to study up so I won’t embarrass Flynn when we watch the next World Cup.”

“Flynn told you you’d embarrass him?” Matt glared at Flynn.

Katy nodded. “He said I don’t know anything about football and he doesn’t want me making a fool of myself when we talk about the World Cup.”

“You’re five.” Matt glared at Flynn. “She’s five.”

“Age is no excuse for ignorance,” Flynn said, but his eyes sparkled with mischief while he did it.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Mattie,” Katy said. “Flynn doesn’t know anything about Barbies. So we’re going to watch all the Barbie movies together so he won’t embarrass me with my friends.”

“Hey, I didn’t agree to that.” Flynn glared at her.

“Suck it up,” Katy said.

“Katy!” Abby snapped. “Where did you hear that?”

Katy pointed at Flynn with an angelic smile on her face.

“Tattletale,” Flynn grumbled at her.

With a giggle, Katy took Jena’s hand and pulled her from the house, babbling on about how they needed to pick up Jonathan. Jena gave Abby a reassuring smile.

“It’ll be okay,” Matt said. “Just be yourself.” He pulled Abby into a hug, which Flynn broke with a growl.

“Mine,” he told his cousin.