Free Welcome to Forever by Annie Rains

eyes slanted in pity. “Stop that.”
    “Stop what?” Julie asked, the slant diving deeper.
    “Looking at me like I’m not okay. I am okay. Just because I don’t use this room, or that bed anymore, doesn’t mean anything.”
    “I know.” Julie nodded. “Have you even touched this bed since he’s been gone?”
    Not since she’d gotten the call from John’s sobbing mother, informing her that they’d identified his body. “Please, just get up,” Kat snapped, trying her best not to sound like a royal bitch. “You can sleep somewhere else. I’ll give you my room and I’ll take the couch.”
    Julie stood, shaking her head. “I’m not kicking you out of your own room. If anyone is taking the couch, it’s me. The couch will be perfect, actually.” She lifted her bags and started back down the hall. “Are you at least going to therapy?” she asked.
    Kat didn’t answer. Work was her therapy. And Val.
    “You never were good at taking care of yourself. Too busy taking care of everyone else around you,” Julie continued.
    Kat huffed, doing her best to keep up as Julie strode directly toward the kitchen. “I’m taking care of myself. You don’t even live here. You have no idea if I’m taking care of myself or not. Which I am.” Kat rested her hands on her hips, her brows lowering as she watched Julie open the refrigerator and peer inside. “What are you doing?”
    “Seeing just how well you take care of yourself.” Julie glanced over her shoulder. “You’re living off cold pizza and mustard?”
    Point taken.
    “Kirk’s pizza is the best,” Kat said weakly, as if that were a viable defense.
    “Well, we’re going out to dinner tonight anyway, right?” Julie shut the fridge and leaned against the counter. “We’ll work on finding you that rebound guy tonight and get groceries tomorrow. It’s a wonder you’re still breathing.” Her sister winked playfully.
    “I’m the older sister. I’m the one who is supposed to be making sure you’re okay.”
    Julie’s smile wilted only slightly. “All good.” Her catchphrase for as long as Kat could remember. Everything was always “all good.” And Kat usually believed her. But Julie was suddenly home, and the dark circles under her eyes made Kat wonder at the reason.
    “How soon do the bars open in Seaside anyway?” Julie asked, flashing a wicked grin.
    “Only one bar in Seaside, remember? Heroes. And I believe it’s open right now.”
    “Good.” Julie headed toward her suitcase. “I’ll freshen up, we’ll grab a bite, and then we’ll work on getting you laid.”
    Kat spewed the drink of water she’d just sipped onto the floor in front of her. “Who said anything about having sex?” Kat asked.
    Julie chuckled, looking her over. “Sis, you are wound tighter than a forty-year-old virgin. But okay, fine.” She held up her hands in surrender. “You can start by getting wasted drunk tonight and we’ll advance to orgasms another night. How’s that?”
    Kat’s shoulders relaxed a notch. Drunk sounded nice. “Perfect.”
    —
    Micah reluctantly walked through the door of Heroes, Seaside’s only bar. It was a popular hole-in-the-wall that catered to the local military. How had Lawson talked him into coming here after the dinner from hell, when Ben had stared at his lettuce like eating it was some new form of torture? He just wanted his kid to be happy. Was that too much to ask?
    “Ben’ll be fine with your aunt. Aunt Clara is awesome.” Lawson bumped his shoulder, seeming to read his mind. “You need some time off to unwind.”
    Drinking wasn’t Micah’s idea of unwinding. Unwinding was tilling dirt. Riding his mower. Fishing. “Aunt Clara?” Micah teased. “She’s my aunt, you know? Not yours.”
    Lawson shrugged. “What happened to what’s mine is yours?”
    “I never said that.” Micah frowned. “And keep your voice down. You’re making us sound like an old married couple.”
    Lawson’s gaze skimmed over him. “Nah.