Page 84 of Reckless Love

“Your mom said you couldn’t snoop?” I ask, coming over to place the back of my hand on Ava’s forehead, and she bats it away. “You feeling okay there, champ?”

“I was trying to be respectful,” she huffs out and then winces.

“Seriously,” I say, examining her. “You okay?”

“Our nurse, Rosalin, has been taking great care of us,” Ava confirms.

The nurse pops her head out of the kitchen and gives me a little wave. I didn’t remember her name earlier, but she was familiar. “Checked their wounds and changed their dressings. I called the head office, and they said you haven’t canceled any care going forward with your parents’ move?”

“No,” I say with a shake of my head. “These two need some basic help, and I have to keep working.”

“Tell the agency to start billing Ava Tucker,” Ava says as she moves a piece on the chessboard.

“I can—” I start.

“No,” Ava says, “you’re doing enough. Rosalin, please ask them to bill me. If I need to call to confirm tomorrow, I can do that.”

“I’ll let them know,” Rosalin says. “Shouldn’t be a problem to keep care consistent, since it was already booked for Mr. and Mrs. Foster.”

“Perfect,” Ava says. “You were great today. We really appreciate it.”

“I liked playing Rosalin better,” Landon says, glancing up at me. “I could beat her.”

“Okay,” Ava says with a faint laugh and a wince. “Are you back for the night?” she asks me.

“Unless there’s an emergency, I’m all yours,” I say.

“Then I’ll get out of here,” Rosalin says, checking her watch.

“If we owe overtime,” Ava says, “just bill me.”

“Only five minutes,” Rosalin says. “It’s within the grace period. I will see you two next time.” She gathers her things and heads to the front door.

“You wanted more games?” I say to Landon.

“You got any?” Landon asks, perking up.

“Battleship. Do you know how to play?”

“No. Can you teach me?” His eager expression tugs at my heartstrings.

After grabbing the game down from a high cupboard, I drag a kitchen chair into the living room to the small table they’re sitting at. The kitchen table would make more sense for the three of us, but I want the closeness. I used to love all these games, too, playing with my dad, trying to best him.

“It’d be an honor to teach you,” I say, my voice rough with emotions I couldn’t easily explain to either of them as I set up the pieces.

Ava runs her hand down my back and leans into my shoulder, her head resting on it for the briefest moment before she rises to go to the kitchen. When she returns, she stands at the edge of the living room, watching me explain the rules of play to Landon with a glass of water in her hand.

“Do you want one?” she asks, tapping the glass.

“I’m okay,” I say. “What about you, buddy?”

“I’m okay too,” he says, watching me carefully as I divvy out the ships.

We’re two games in when Landon goes from looking a little tired to downright exhausted. I catch Ava’s gaze and tip my head toward Landon.

“Last game,” she says. “Winner takes it all.”

When I land the final blow to Landon’s last ship, he mutters, “I gotta get better at hiding them.”