21. Stella
Chapter 21
Stella
I've learned a lot over the last couple of weeks. I’d made a list that I mentally kept repeating. I was hoping I could make it all go away if I did—so far it was a no-go.
1: I wasn’t a fan of being a patient. Though to be honest, I already knew that well before now, but it’s worth noting anyway.
2: Both my dad and fiancé thought they were absolutely hysterical. They’re not, just in case you’re keeping tabs.
3: My little brother, my little man, had a crush on a girl. A girl who knocked him on his ass in front of a crowd for being a dick. I gave her props for that, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about there being more to it than that. I mean, it’s cute, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to share him with the world like that.
4: Ethan was the cutest little bundle of gas and giggles around.
5: If I didn’t get out of this house and away from the overload of testosterone, someone was going to die. Painfully. And, I might not feel bad about it later.
So I called in backup. One of the girls was on the way to liberate me and baby Ethan for the day. I was going to Dani Lynn’s so I could sit in the sun, watch the kiddos play, and hopefully be able to get my mind back where it should be. Not on the bad shit that happened that day in the barn. I could still see that day replaying over and over in my head. My brother, helpless, being beaten by two overzealous assholes. His bloody and bruised body tied to that post. It could have all ended so differently.
“Stel.” I heard Trace calling me for the umpteenth time in the last hour. I ignored him as I went back to brushing my hair. He meant well, but he was driving me bat shit crazy. I was fine. I was out of bed; dressed in actual clothes. I was eating my breakfast. The toasted bread with SunButter on it was almost gone. I could only eat so fast, after all. I put my brush down, took another bite, and chewed as I bent over, letting my hair fall forward. I gathered it up into an absolute mess of a bun and shrugged. It was what it was. I could care less if there was a nest on top of my head or not.
Using my crutches, I stood from the toilet seat, which made a great chair when the cover was down, and opened the bathroom door. I stuck the last half of the bread in my mouth and held it with my teeth as I carefully made my way to the bed. I looked down at Ethan sleeping and smiled.
I propped my crutches up against the bedside table and finished off my toast. My eyes closed as I savored the SunButter.
It had taken a bit of time to get used to the slight difference between it and peanut butter. I wasn’t a fan of changing at first, but with Lana having a peanut allergy, we had all made changes in our diets to eliminate the chance of cross-contamination. An allergy like that was not something we wanted to play with.
I did indulge in all things peanuts when we were out of town on cases and there was no chance of something happening. Mainly M I know you do.”
“I love you, but I hate you too.”
He grunted before pressing himself harder against me. I was slowly losing the battle I had waged. What in the hell was wrong with me? Why could I not hold onto my shit and push him away?
“I’m so glad you said you were marrying me. I might worry if you hadn’t.”
“Keep this up?—”
“Stop dry humping each other. We gotta roll,” Kris said from the bedroom doorway.
I growled in frustration.
Trace laughed, shaking his head as he pushed up from the bed. His hand came out, and he helped me up. I was moving slowly, but I was up. Kris grinned as she picked up Ethan. He was wide-eyed and all grins. Gah. So stinking cute.
“I can keep him today,” Trace said, smiling at me.
“I don’t doubt your daddy skills, but there is an ugly troll coming to get you to take you out somewhere. He mentioned an appointment y’all had. Robert and Gabe are coming to get Daddy to do the same. They’ll have to bodily remove him from that shop out there, but that’s their project.”
“What about Carter?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes and pointed to the door. I could already hear them all down the hall. “Derek and Lana have come to take him out too. No one is staying home today. So enjoy it.”
“...she wasn’t happy with my joke. She didn’t hit me for no reason. Come on, give her a chance! Please, you’ll see she’s really sweet, and a bit of a firecracker.”
“I’m not convinced yet.”
“Aw, come on, baby. You’re going to enjoy this. Just us. You can interrogate her if you want,” Derek cajoled.
“No!” Carter sounded flustered. “No interrogating her.”
I heard Lana mumble something after that declaration. I was with her. What in the fuck did he know about some girl being a firecracker? He sounded serious. My heart wasn’t ready.
“He’s so smitten…”
I looked at Kris and wrinkled my nose. Her giggle made me want to hit her. I really wasn’t ready for this.
“He’s a big boy, Stel.” Trace winked at me. I wanted to punch him too.
“God help us all. Let’s go. Big man, I need my backpack, the one over there. If he’s done, there should be a lunch pack on the counter for Ethan. Daddy was making up bottles and stuff for me to take when I came up to shower.”
“I have that in the truck already. He brought it to me on his way out to the yard. I’m guessing he’s going to hide in the man cave.”
“Good. Well, like I said, he’s Robert and Gabe’s struggle for today. He’s been out there every free minute he has. He won’t let any of us out there. He’s being very shady.”
“He’s allowed to have his secrets, baby.” Trace snickered.
I, being the adult I was, stuck my tongue out at him, then followed after Kris, who still had Ethan cuddled up against her chest. Trace walked with me, following close and helping me down the front steps, which were not as menacing today as they had been. I was sort of figuring out how to maneuver and balance on these damn crutches. Most of the time. The key was not rushing.
Climbing up into the truck wasn’t as easy but still manageable thanks to Trace’s help.
“Be safe and have fun.” He leaned in and kissed me. The kiss goodbye was hard and full of promises for later. God, he was just mean.
“I will. Scout’s honor.”
“Just don’t have too much fun.” He raised a brow at me.
I snorted. “We’ll only have a few strippers and a few bottles of booze. Just a normal girls’ day.”
I turned to look at Kris. Other than the slight grin on her face, she looked serious. Trace muttered something we’re probably glad we didn’t hear as he shook his head.
“You’re getting a little too good at bullshitting,” I said, giving her a high five.
“Well, I’m a fast learner.”
“Touché.” I laughed as Trace shut the truck door. “Love you, handsome.”
“Love you, too, baby.”
We pulled down the drive slowly and turned onto the main road.
“Y’all, I think my dad’s got a thing for a lady. She was one of the nurses in the ER.”
Dani Lynn, Kris, Shelby, and Anna looked up, with matching looks of wonder on their faces.
“Seriously?” Anna asked, her eyes widening when I nodded.
“He was on the phone with her yesterday. He said it was about her son, but I’m not convinced that was all they were talking about.” The corner of my mouth tipped up. “He was smiling. Like, a real smile, too. I just watched him?—”
“Like a stalker.”
I glared at Dani Lynn. She and Kris were grinning now.
“I was not stalking. I was merely leaning against the wall outside of his office. I needed a rest, and he just happened to be on the phone…” I grinned.
“I think it’s great. I mean, look, our dads are all in a place in life where they’re able to be free of the child-rearing years. It’s about work, grandbabies, and if they find time for a little romance, so be it.” Anna smiled, her cheeks pinking.
“Wait a minute. Does that mean Robert has his eye on someone? Hmmm?” Dani Lynn beat me to the question.
“I’m not sure just yet. I think so. Could be wishful thinking and all. He was talking to Gabe about someone the other day in the office. It’s always loud in there, so you can’t hear squat, but they were talking about a ‘her.’” She used her fingers to cross the air before her.
“Well, that’s something to look forward to. Lori coming back into Dad’s life the way she did was good for him. He’s less grumpy now. A little more relaxed.” Dani Lynn’s smile said it all. Her dad was happy and honestly, we all wanted that for them.
“Some of that has to do with you being here, close by in case something happens. You know they all worry. We’re not just their kids. We have the next generation to bring up. Who better to watch over them than their grandparents?” Kris says, grinning fondly.
“Hear, hear!” Shelby said, holding up her glass.
“To the men in our lives. May they be young or old,” Anna remarked, her glass going up.
The rest of us held up our glasses and clinked them together. After a big sip of the sweet tea, I set my glass back down and smiled. This had been exactly what I’d needed. Time away from Dad’s house and everyone there. They meant well, but they were driving me batty. Girl time was the best medicine money could buy.
“Y’all…” I chewed on my lip and sighed. All eyes had turned to me.
“You alright?” Shelby asked, ready to stand up.
I waved my hand and looked out to the field, giving myself a minute. I needed to clear the air, but I was scared. Yes, me, Stella-freaking-Malone was scared to tell my best friends that I was beyond freaking out.
“I’m all over the place. The pregnancy. The adoption process for Ethan. Carter having a somewhat girlfriend. The prospect of my dad possibly having a somewhat lady friend. It’s all so much.”
“Girl, I know those feelings all too well. Let me tell you, it’s going to be okay. Carter is allowed to grow up and find love, in any form he can. You did. The ogres did.”
“Hey!” Anna laughed hard. “I love one of those ogres.”
“I know, but you see my point. When Derek and Alana became more than friends, I was scared. They were young, and then life threw then a curveball. We’ve all been through the feelings. If you need to talk them out, you have us.”
I shouldn’t have worried about telling them I was scared. It was a lot, but I had them to help calm my nerves and worries. They were the best. I’d be lost without any one of them.