Billie looked up at him, her green eyes gleaming in the half-light. “Don’t worry, Uncle Scooter. I c’n sleep in here an’ keep monsters away. Mom said monsters only like it when there’s one person ‘round. So, me an’ Uncle Andy’ll keep you safe.”
God, he loved that kid. “Yeah, okay,” he agreed, rough. “Jus’ for tonight, though.”
Billie squirmed under the blankets. “It’ll be like a sleepover,” she said, snuggling up, already sounding drowsy. “Go back t’ sleep. Uncle Andy’ll keep watch for this shift.”
“I will, will I?” Andy asked, amused, but he kissed the top of Billie’s head, then leaned over her to kiss Scooter’s forehead. “Okay. Just this once.” 21
Scooter was still uncomfortable enough in his own skin to yield to letting Andy drive without complaint. He didn’t even loop his hand through the chicken-bar over the window; Andy’s tendency to tailgate like a motherfucker didn’t usually lend to Scooter being relaxed as a passenger. Face it, Stahl, he thought, you are a control freak.