Page 48 of The Last Goodbye

But I nodded, and she turned on her heels and started walking.

And I just stood there watching her, because it was the next best thing to walking beside her.

twelve

​. . .​

Briar

McGrumpy

Did you make it home okay?

Yes, Dad. I’m a grown woman. It’s a two-block walk.

McGrumpy

I thought we were done being assholes to one another?

Oh. I don’t remember agreeing to that.

McGrumpy

Would you like to go three more months with me being a dick?

When you put it like that, I’ll take the non-dick version please.

McGrumpy

Glad you made it home safely.

Thank you. And thank you for breakfast and for getting me a little drunky.

McGrumpy

Can’t hold your liquor, huh?

Were you trying to get me drunk?

McGrumpy

I do like a drunk Magpie.

McGrumpy

Can I ask you something?

I mean, you know the torrid details of my childhood. What more could you want to know?

McGrumpy

Don’t make jokes about what you went through. It’s not funny. You’ve been through more than most could handle, and you’ve come out on top.

My eyes widened as I stared at the phone. I hadn’t expected that. The man was full of surprises. But now that I was sober, I had no desire to word-dump about my past.

Don’t start being nice to me. It makes me question your motives.

McGrumpy