31. Chapter 31
Chapter thirty-one
Parker
I lift my free hand and knock on the front door.
My other hand holds three plastic sacks.
I spent the afternoon helping Maddox sort through some new bulls, and when I got Laiken’s text about Trace, the last place I wanted to be was in the arena.
I didn’t care if we went to an elephant sanctuary or we vegged out in front of the TV.
I didn’t care if I was cleaning up Trace’s puke.
I’ve spent years knowing where I wanted to be.
And now that I’m here, nothing is keeping me from them.
It takes a few minutes for the door to open, and Laiken’s face flashes with surprise when she sees me standing on the porch.
“Parker? What are you doing here?” She frowns.
“Bringing reinforcements.” I lift the bags. “Can I come in?”
She steps aside before closing the door behind me. I head straight to the kitchen.
“All right, I’ve got three different soups. Saltines and ginger ale. I even got some Pepto. The kids’ kind.” I drop the bags on the counter and start to empty the contents. “There’s also some Tylenol and cooling packs to help with fever.”
Laiken hasn’t spoken yet, so I glance over my shoulder and find her standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at me. Then I notice the tears.
Shit.
“Did I overstep?” I leave the bags. “I’m sorry. I can lea—”
The words are barely out of my mouth before she launches herself at me.
I catch her with ease as her arms wind around my neck.
I haven’t held her in my arms in years. And fuck if it doesn’t feel like coming home.
Neither of us speaks. I keep her strapped to my chest, one hand cupping the back of her head.
“Thank you.” Her whisper is faint but present.
“You’re welcome,” I whisper back before planting a soft kiss on her hair.
She finally untangles herself from me, and I reluctantly let her go. She sniffs a few times.
“I appreciate it. He hasn’t been able to keep much down the last couple of hours. He’s out right now.”
“That’s okay. You hungry? I bought enough soup that could feed Ryder for a week,” I joke.
She snorts a laugh. “Ryder has to have a stash. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him go to the store and you know he isn’t getting it delivered.”
“The man is a mystery.” I pull the last can of soup from the bag. “And a grumpy motherfucker.”
Laiken swats my arm. “Let him be. He’s just…”
I lift a brow.
“Okay. Fine. He’s grumpy.” She rolls her eyes.
“Take your pick. Tomato, Chicken NoodleO’s, or broccoli and cheddar?” I ask, waving a hand over the soup cans.
“I’m assuming the O’s are for Trace.” She snickers. “I’ll take broccoli and cheddar. I know tomato is your favorite.”
“I’m surprised you remember that,” I mutter.
“Unfortunately, I remember a lot of things, Parker.” She side-eyes me. “The good and the bad.”
“Me too,” I admit.
She scoops up the cans, then motions to the living room. “You brought dinner. Least I can do is cook it. Pick a movie.” She goes to the stove. “I’m trusting your judgment. Don’t make me regret it.”
I leave her in the kitchen, doing as I’m told.
I sift through the selections, then click on Divergent.
It was always one of her favorites, although I’ve always had the suspicion she only likes it because of Theo James.
Who the fuck even looks like that? I mean, I can say with complete confidence in my masculinity that he’s a good-looking man.
Doesn’t mean I didn’t hate it when she would get all doe-eyed when he came on screen.
Great. Now I’m jealous over a celebrity she’s never even met.
“Do you want cheese?” she calls from the kitchen.
“Yes, please.”
I stride around the couch, watching the way she rises on her toes to grab a bowl from the top shelf. Her yoga pants make her ass look fantastic, and the hoodie she has on looks very familiar. I was too worried about getting all the right items earlier to notice it.
“Turn around.” My voice drops.
“What’s wrong?” She spins around.
My gaze trails across her chest.
Mayson Ridge Rodeo
It’s faded. Old. Mine.
“You still have it?” I ask.
Which is stupid because she obviously still has it.
She casts her eyes down, cheeks blushing pink. “I could never bring myself to throw it away.” She looks back up. “I almost burned it a time or two.”
“Damn, Firefly. Didn’t know you were so violent.”
She smiles. “Apparently, I’m not, seeing as it’s still in my possession.”
“You look fucking beautiful in it.” I take a step toward her.
“Thanks.” She spins around and drops the bowl on the counter.
She’s nervous. She could never hide her emotions from me.
I walk up behind her and brace my hands on each side of her frame.
My palms land on the cool Formica as she sucks in a breath.
She slides the sleeves of my hoodie up her arms to keep her hands busy.
That’s when I go rigid. My body locks tight when I see the purple bruises lining her forearm.
I can’t stop the next words out of my mouth.
“Who. The. Fuck. Touched. You?”