Chapter 7 #2
Lefty whistled. “That’s tough. I don’t know which is worse, not having parents, or to be taken away from them every couple years while they worked through their shit.”
“I know. Then they died when she was eighteen, and she’s been on her own since then. I know she and Kinley didn’t have similar situations growing up, but I’m hoping they’ll have enough in common that they’ll click as a result,” Oz said.
“Just because they were both foster kids doesn’t mean they’re gonna be besties,” Lefty warned.
“I know. I just…I want Riley to like them. She’s content being by herself, but I think she would really blossom with some friends who truly understand her.”
Lefty gestured to the porch with his head. “I don’t think you need to worry about her making friends.”
Oz looked over and saw the women were once again laughing together about something. He relaxed a bit. “I knew they’d get along,” he said more to himself than the man standing next to him.
“They’re all good people. Everyone needs friends.
I don’t know what I would’ve done without all of you by my side during all those months when Kinley was in WITSEC.
You kept me sane when I wanted to tear the country apart looking for her.
Gillian had Ann, Wendy, and Clarissa before she hooked up with Trigger, but they were either already married with kids or dating.
I think Kinley and Aspen have been good for her.
And I know Kins feels blessed to have Gillian, Aspen, and even Devyn in her life. ”
Oz couldn’t believe they were standing there chatting about women’s friendships, but it didn’t feel weird in the least. Not when he was doing it because he wanted to make sure Riley was comfortable. “Thanks, I appreciate the reassurance.”
“No prob. But I’m not going to start talking about periods and other women’s shit with you,” Lefty said with a grin. “Come on, let’s get this barn taken down so we can get a beer and hang out with our chicks.”
Oz chuckled. “Sounds like a plan. Will you help me keep an eye on Logan? I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“Of course. We’ve all got eyes on him. He’ll be fine.”
Oz nodded and looked back at the porch one more time, before turning his attention to the old rotting boards around him. The sooner they got the barn taken down, the sooner he could check on Riley and hopefully take her on that four-wheeler ride he’d promised her.
Riley laughed at something Gillian said. She’d been fairly quiet so far, letting the other women talk around her, but she truly was enjoying herself. Everyone was down-to-earth and very welcoming, which had been a relief.
She hadn’t been sure what kind of reception she’d get from the other women. She’d felt like an outsider most of her life. Because of the way she’d been raised, because she only had a high school education, because she worked from home instead of in an office…for so many reasons.
But with Gillian, Kinley, Aspen, and Devyn, she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
They were all sitting on the porch watching the men take down the barn.
She couldn’t help but let her eyes linger on Porter.
He’d taken his shirt off, and she felt as if she needed a fan to cool herself down.
His shoulders were broad, and every time he picked something up, his muscles rippled sexily.
She couldn’t decide if she liked his arms better, or his back, or his abs.
“Wipe the drool off, girl,” Gillian teased as she leaned over and nudged Riley’s arm.
Startled, she glanced over at the other women and saw they were all looking at her. Blushing, Riley could only smile and shrug.
Everyone laughed. “Don’t feel bad, seeing Trigger shirtless makes me want to drag him off and have my wicked way with him,” Gillian told her.
“Gage is still trying to make up for lost time while I was in WITSEC,” Kinley said with a small, secret smile.
“I think that was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do,” Gillian told her. “Seriously. And you left before you’d healed from being beaten and thrown off that bridge. You’re either crazy or bulletproof.”
Kinley winced. “Probably more of the former than the latter.”
Riley shifted in her seat. “But you’re okay now?” Porter had told her the basics of what the other women had been through. It was just another reason that she’d felt a little unworthy to be around them.
“I’m good. Before a storm, I’ve noticed that my bones seem to ache, but luckily the weather’s pretty good around here,” Kinley said with a smile. Then she got serious once more. “I hear we’ve got a lot in common when it comes to our upbringing.”
Riley knew immediately she was talking about being a foster kid. “Yeah. But my stays were only temporary until my parents got their act together and could get me back.”
“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t sound any better than my situation,” Kinley said. “I mean, yeah, you still had your mom and dad, but you never knew when you’d be taken away again, and it had to hurt knowing they kept doing shit that would get you removed from the house.”
It had. Kinley had hit the nail on the head with her observation.
Riley had often wondered why they hadn’t loved her enough to do whatever it took to ensure she’d never get taken away again.
They kept falling back on their old habits.
“Yeah, there were many nights I lie awake wondering why I wasn’t able to go home yet.
Why my parents hadn’t immediately done what was required to get me back,” Riley said.
“That sucks. I used to pray that the families I’d go to would want me enough to adopt me, but it never happened. I couldn’t figure out what it was that I’d done wrong every time I was moved to another home,” Kinley said.
“And I wondered why my parents loved alcohol more than me,” Riley reciprocated.
Kinley leaned forward and reached out her hand. Riley took it, somehow feeling so much better when the other woman squeezed it gently. “It sticks with you, doesn’t it?” she asked softly.
Riley nodded.
“It gets better. I know that’s kinda trite, and I don’t mean it to be, but with the right man,” she paused to look over at the barn, then continued, “and with the right friends, it’s amazing how much of your past you can forget when you’re finally happy and content.”
Riley had searched for that contentment for ten years, and still hadn’t found it. Although she had to admit that the time she’d spent with Oz and Logan had done a lot to make her believe she could finally be happy.
Kinley gave her hand one last squeeze then sat back.
“I have a question,” Gillian said.
“Shoot,” Riley said.
“Not for you. For Devyn.”
Everyone looked over at the other woman.
Riley had been intimidated when she’d been introduced to Devyn.
She was tall, almost six feet, and had beautiful long blonde hair and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
She’d thought that Devyn had to be a model or something, and when she’d said as much, Devyn had laughed and said she was “only” a vet tech at a local veterinarian clinic.
“I want to know why you really moved to Texas,” Gillian said in a gentle tone, but one still filled with determination.
“You know why,” Devyn said. “My boss wanted to date me and I didn’t reciprocate his feelings. When he got physical with me and pushed me into an exam table, I was done. I needed a fresh start. It took me way too long to finally find a job here, but now that I have, I’m happy.”
“I’m sorry, that had to have sucked, but why here?
I mean, you’re good at what you do. I would think any number of vet clinics in Missouri would’ve hired you.
Was your boss that much of a dick that he somehow blocked you from getting another job?
And you’ve got two brothers who still live in Missouri, wouldn’t they have helped you? ”
Devyn was quiet for a long moment. “Let’s just say the timing was actually really good. It gave me a perfect excuse to leave town and make a fresh start.”
Riley didn’t like the sound of that. Not at all.
“What does that mean, though?” Kinley asked. “I also remember you didn’t want to talk to your mom one day when Grover had her on the phone.”
“Look, I like you guys, but I don’t really care to talk about myself that much. I’m fine. Everything’s good,” Devyn said, sounding a little desperate.
Riley could tell that all wasn’t fine with her, but she didn’t know her enough to feel as if she could push.
Apparently Gillian didn’t have as many reservations.
“I get the feeling you haven’t had much luck with guys in the past. And I know you felt stifled growing up and that you missed out on a lot because of your leukemia.
But you can trust us. And the guys too. Especially Lucky. He’d do anything for you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Devyn muttered.
“You’ve got a lot of people who would do just about anything to protect you. Your brothers, Lucky, the guys on the team, us…you just have to let us in,” Gillian insisted.
“Sometimes the people who are supposed to protect you are the ones who hurt you the most,” Devyn said quietly.
Riley knew what she meant. She’d experienced that firsthand with her own parents.
It was obvious the other women didn’t like what they were hearing, and Kinley opened her mouth to say something, but Devyn sat up, straightened her shoulders, and asked Aspen firmly, making it clear she was changing the subject and was done talking about herself, “How’s Brain doing with remembering all the languages he thought he’d lost after your ex beaned him in the head? ”
Aspen hesitated, as if she really wanted to go back to Devyn’s troubling comment, but then she gave her friend a small smile and went with the change of subject. “It’s amazing, really. Once he really started remembering, everything seemed to come back almost at once.”