Read Online Anything You Ask by Lynn Kellan - Free Book Online Page B

on the carpet. “Now there’s more room. You can sit where I was, Mom.”
    “Thanks.” She settled beside Hale and noticed he didn’t move his leg out of the way when her knee bumped his. A tingle of excitement trickled up her thigh when Hale’s solid one rested against hers.
    For the rest of the first inning and the entire second inning, they sat with their legs touching. His arm stayed along the back of the couch, loosely circling her shoulders. Every once in a while, she felt him touch her hair.
    When a series of commercials flickered across the TV screen, Hale pulled away and rubbed the back of his head. “Do you have any pain reliever, Danielle?”
    “Yes.” She studied the sapphire flecks in his sky blue eyes and noticed the outer rim of his irises had a gray tint, just like her sons’ eyes looked whenever they started to get sick. “Is something wrong?”
    “Just a headache,” he confessed.
    Her stomach twisted with concern. “I’ll get you some medicine.”
    Drew looked at Hale. “Can you show me how to throw a slider? Do I use two fingers, or three?”
    Danielle stood, chagrined her son was unaware of his stepfather’s discomfort. “Not now, Drew. It’s time for bed.”
    “But the third inning just started.”
    “You have school tomorrow,” Hale responded, turning off the TV. “We want you to get a good night’s sleep.”
    Drew got up, but a streak of stubbornness filtered across his young face. “I can’t wait until I’m big. Then I can go to bed when I want to.”
    “If it’s any consolation, I won’t stay up much longer. The minute your mother says she’s going to bed, I’m following her.” Hale leaned over to give Drew’s hand a sympathetic squeeze. “G’night, buddy.”
    Danielle noticed how Drew’s frown eased the moment Hale touched his hand. Warmth unfolded inside her. Hale always backed up her parenting decisions, but his gentleness made her boys feel like their complaints were understood.
    Drew looked at her and nodded, signaling his willingness to obey her request.
    Grateful for having such sweet boys, Danielle ran her fingers through Drew’s soft blond hair.
    He relaxed and smiled at her.
    Luke put his arm around Hale’s shoulders in a display of easy camaraderie. “I hope your headache feels better. Dad used to get headaches in the morning. He called them hangovers. He said the best thing we could do was to stay out of his way.”
    Hale frowned and slid his index finger along the back of his left ear, adjusting the volume on his hearing aid. “Did he have many hangovers?”
    “Yes, but we got used to them after a while.” Luke’s small hand patted Hale’s back. “You don’t seem as grumpy as Dad used to get, but we’ll leave you alone if you want. Are you having a hangover?”
    “No. I’m just a little worn out. Don’t stay out of my way. I feel a lot better when I’m with you boys and your Mom.”
    Luke’s face brightened. “Okay. I’ll check on you tomorrow before school. Mom can take care of you tonight.”
    “I’d like that.”
    “Come on, boys. Let’s give Hale a chance to rest.” Danielle corralled her sons and followed them upstairs. When she looked over her shoulder at Hale, he was staring at the family portrait propped on the fireplace mantel, looking into his brother’s eyes as though he no longer recognized him.
    A few minutes later when she returned to the living room, Hale had taken off his hearing aid so he could rub his ear. She touched his shoulder just like she used to do the summer they first met, and he looked up. Despite his obvious pain, his cool eyes flickered with warmth when he saw her standing close.
    “This’ll help.” She offered him a glass of milk and two tablets.
    “Thanks.” He popped the pills in this mouth and took a long drink.
    Danielle sat beside him, watching him put the hearing aid back on. “That looks smaller than the one you used to wear.”
    “It is. I found a good doctor in Oklahoma who updated