Chapter Ten
Gunner ran up the steps to Rachel’s house and knocked on the door. He was hoping no one saw him with the stupid grin on his face. He’d offered to drive Rachel and the kids to the first day of school, and she’d said yes.
Afterward, they were sitting down to plan for each week until the opening. Gunner had already been excited for Broken Hearts, but having a partner to work with, whom he absolutely adored, changed everything.
Marcus opened the door, hugging Gunner as soon as he came in.
“Are you ready for your first day of school here?”
Marcus nodded. “Yep, Mom found out last night that I get to be in the same class as Benji.”
Gunner held his hand out for Marcus to high-five. “So you already have a friend in class. Where’s your mom?”
Marcus pointed toward the bathroom.
“Okay, is Chelle ready?” Gunner asked.
“She’s in her room,” Marcus said, walking away to get his backpack.
Gunner walked into Chelle’s room. She was sitting on her bed, dressed in a cute pair of jean overalls with a polka dot shirt underneath. Rachel had pulled her hair into a ponytail. Her backpack was on the bed.
“Are you ready for school?” Gunner asked.
Chelle shook her head.
Gunner knelt down. “What’s up, buttercup?”
She giggled, then went back to frowning.
“Share the deets, Pete.”
She giggled again, then frowned.
“Explain the problem… umm, I can’t rhyme with problem. So what’s the scoop, little boop?” Gunner asked.
Chelle hopped off the bed and grabbed Gunner’s hand.
“What if no one likes me?” she asked.
“Aww, first days are so hard. Can I tell you a secret?” Gunner asked, turning to peek over his shoulder.
Chelle nodded, her eyes widening. Gunner leaned close.
“Almost everybody in school is worried people won’t like them. Sometimes they just hide it better,” Gunner whispered close to her ear.
Chelle scrunched her eyebrows. He worked not to chuckle at her face, which looked exactly like Rachel’s sometimes.
“Promise?” she asked.
“I promise. Now, just say hi to everyone, and I want you to remember this: sometimes people may not talk much or may seem like they are ignoring you. But it could be because they are shy. So show them your pretty smile and meet some new people today. Now, do you want me to hold your hand?” he asked.
Chelle nodded and took his hand again. He grabbed her backpack. When they got out into the front room, Rachel was waiting with Marcus. He couldn’t tell what was going on, but she seemed a little off.
They hustled the kids out to the SUV and headed toward the school. Marcus and Chelle asked questions about the town and the school. Gunner could answer some but not all. He might need to chat with Regina about the town. He didn’t like not knowing the answer to the kids’ questions.
In no time, they’d dropped the kids off at their classrooms, and he and Rachel headed to Broken Hearts Brewing. Rachel was quiet and the music wasn’t on. Which was why, when she pressed a hand against her stomach and groaned quietly, he heard it.
“Okay, tell me what’s going on. Are you okay?” he asked.
Oh dear God, he didn’t ask her about her groan. She felt like total and complete dog crap. She took something for the pain and was just waiting for it to kick in.
Today was worse than some times, but still, it’s not something she wanted to share with the man who said he liked her yesterday.
“Rachel, if you don’t feel well, everything can wait. I want you to feel okay,” Gunner said.
She didn’t answer right away because she wasn’t used to talking about this with anyone. Her mom had never discussed this with her, and after marriage, Maynard had shuddered whenever she brought it up.
Gunner made the turn onto the corner where Broken Hearts Brewing was and drove past.
“Hey, you missed stopping,” Rachel said.
Gunner glanced over at her but kept driving away, back toward the compound.
“Something is obviously wrong, and you don’t feel well. I’m taking you back to the house,” he said.
Rachel hung her head. Fudge! She was going to have to tell him what was going on. It was just so embarrassing.
“I have cramps. They started this morning. They usually go away the second day,” she muttered, her face warming. Was she really blushing like a teenager?
“Oh, well, why didn’t you say so? Do you have a heating pad? What about medicine?” Gunner asked.
Rachel turned to stare at Gunner’s profile. He’d just acted like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Umm, I think my heating pad is still packed in the van. I took some ibuprofen. I can go to work,” Rachel said.
“Can you dial Flick and put it on speaker?” Gunner asked.
Rachel wasn’t sure why he needed Flick, but she did what he asked.
“Hello,” Flick said.
“Hey, Rachel’s got cramps. What were those warming things you had me buy for Beth that one time?” Gunner asked.
“They’re thermal patches that keep the muscles warm.
After we ran out a couple months ago, I ordered enough for the next two years for any woman on the compound.
They’re in the hall closet of our house.
I’m on shift but feel free to get as many as you want.
Sorry she’s not feeling well. The stash of period chocolate is in the locked tote on the floor because otherwise, those sneaky dogs would get it open.
Key is hanging on the wall of the same closet.
Gotta go, we’re getting called out,” Flick said, hanging up.
Rachel stared at Gunner long enough and he finally sighed loudly.
“What?” he asked.
“You told Flick I had cramps,” Rachel said.
“Well, yeah, he made me go buy Beth those thermal things when I lived with them. I knew he’d have what you needed,” Gunner said.
Rachel tried to reconcile Gunner’s blasé attitude about feminine issues with how her husband had acted. Her husband had been even more of an asshat than she knew.
“Thank you,” Rachel said.
“No problem. I’m getting the thermal things for if you want them later today or tomorrow. After we get them and some of the chocolate, you’re going home to relax on the couch with a heating pad, either to read or watch TV, got it?” Gunner asked.
“Yes, sir,” Rachel smarted back.
“Hmmm, I like the sound of that, but let’s table that discussion until you’re feeling one hundred percent,” Gunner quipped.
Oh my! She may feel like crap, but Gunner’s words had her wondering if, just maybe, he was the perfect man for her.