When he saw me, he stopped being angry long enough to cry.
“Claire,” he said, wrapping his arms around me carefully.
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
“No,” I admitted. “But she is.”
He looked down at Lily and lost the ability to speak.
My big brother, who had once punched a vending machine because it stole my dollar, covered his mouth and whispered, “Hi, little bean.”
Eli stepped toward the door.
Daniel noticed him.
“You’re Eli?”
“Yes.”
Daniel crossed the room in two strides.
For one alarming second, I thought he was going to grab him.
Instead, he pulled Eli into a hug.
“Thank you,” Daniel said.
Eli stood stiffly at first, clearly unsure what to do with that much emotion.
Then his shoulders relaxed.
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Daniel stepped back, wiping his face. “Ryan?”
“Removed,” I said.
“Good. Where is he?”
“Daniel.”
“I just want to talk.”
