Page 66 of Lost and Lassoed

Thankfully, Emmy showed me mercy and pulled the bag off my shoulder.

“Some necessities,” Emmy said. “Hank, I brought you shirts. I didn’t know what you’d be in the mood for, so I brought Thin Lizzy and the Doors. And,” Emmy added as she dug in the bag again, “a blanket from home.” She unfolded it and draped it over Hank with Teddy’s help. “And last but definitely not least…”

“A speaker!” Teddy exclaimed with a whoop.

“Thank you, Emmy,” Hank said. Teddy had already grabbed the speaker from Emmy and was connecting it to Hank’s phone. After a minute, Fleetwood Mac started playing softly—“Sarah” was the song. “I’m feeling better already.”

Teddy started braiding Hank’s beard and Emmy sipped her coffee. Teddy told us about the plants that she and Riley had found so far, and Hank was happy to hear that his Rocky Mountain field guide was getting some use.

My dad came in then, and when I looked up at him, I saw it—the nose scrunch.

“Sounds like a party in here,” he said. As Emmy, Teddy, and Hank turned toward him, it hit me. Look at this special thingAmos Ryder had created—all by giving a wide-eyed drummer a job.

Emmy stood and went to hug our dad. “Hey, Daddio,” she said. “I brought you a coffee and breakfast.”

“Thanks, Spud,” he said with a kiss to the side of her head. “Hank, I just talked to the doctor.”

“Let me guess,” Teddy said with a pout. “Party’s over?”

My dad’s gravelly laugh traveled through the room. “Party’s over. Hank”—he looked over at his friend—“you need to rest.”

“Party pooper!” Hank muttered.

“I can stay,” Emmy said. “You and Teddy can go shower and change—maybe rest for a bit.”

“I don’t need to change,” Teddy said, and Emmy shot her a pointed look. I think they had an entire telepathic conversation in that moment, because Teddy just grumbled, “Fine.”

“I’ll take you home,” I said quickly, which earned a look from both my sister and my father. And Teddy’s father. And Teddy.

Jesus.

I ignored all of them and kept my eyes on Teddy. “Okay.” She nodded. “But I’m coming back.”

“Duh,” Emmy said.

Chapter 29

Teddy

It wasn’t until Gus’s truck pulled to a stop in front of his house that I realized everyone probably expected Gus to take me to my place, and I should have too.

But I hadn’t.

When he cut the engine, neither of us got out right away. Instead, we sat in silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable like it was earlier today. It was nice. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt comfortable sitting with Gus like this.

At the hospital, I had to be a daughter, a caretaker. I had to be on point there, around everyone else. Here, in the cab of his truck, I could justbe.

I didn’t have to be Teddy the daughter or the caretaker or the best friend or the flirt. Here, with him, I could just be Teddy.

I sighed.

God, I was so tired. I closed my eyes.

I heard Gus get out of the truck, but I stayed. I couldn’t move. After a few seconds, my door opened, and the warm air of the summer morning hit my face. I didn’t open my eyesuntil I felt Gus’s arms—one slid under my knees and the other behind my shoulder blades—and he lifted me out. I blinked up at him, and he looked down at me. “I’ve got you, Teddy baby.”

I believed him, so I closed my eyes again. His steps crunched on the gravel, and I swayed slightly with each of them. I felt it when he went up the stairs and when he pushed the front door open.

The smell of his house was comforting. Like Gus.

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