Page 73 of Into the Shadows

“I love you, Sparkles.”

I kiss his forehead and whisper the words in return. We have a long road in front of us if we want this to last, but for the first time since Teddy came back to Sonoma, I’m not afraid it’s all going to crumble into pieces.

Chapter 41

Teddy

Iblow out a calming breath. Nothing has ever made me more nervous than what I’m about to do.

I check my phone to make sure Lottie doesn’t need anything. I end up grinning like an idiot when I see her message.

Lottie

Get your ass inside the building. Stop delaying the inevitable.

Me

How did you know I was still sitting in my car?

Lottie

Lucky guess. Also, my dad texted me and said you weren’t there yet.

If I come home with a black eye, I’m blaming you.

Big baby.

Go. Inside.

Fiiiiiiine.

I getout of my car and walk across the gravel parking lot of Donna’s Bar. Lottie’s dad invited me out for a drink with a few of Lottie’s uncles. It’s been a week since my incident at the fair, and none of Lottie’s family members has given me crap about it.

Until now, anyway. I have a feeling Lottie’s dad has just been waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I wouldn’t blame him. He deserves to get his revenge against me for hurting his daughter.

Lottie doesn’t think this gathering has anything to do with the incident and everything to do with the girls’ night they host regularly. She said the guys always get together too, which is why I was invited this time.

Aka, the perfect moment to jump me.

I’m being dramatic; I recognize this, but I want her family to like me. As it stands, I’m not showing my best self.

Lottie’s been helping me find a therapist who specializes in trauma and, more specifically, PTSD in combat veterans. I haven’t settled on one yet. Just looking at all the options has been overwhelming.

Noise surrounds me as I walk through the doors of the log cabin-style building. “Here I Go Again”by Whitesnake is blaring from the speakers around the room, competing with the general revelry of the patrons. I find Cooper and Noah’s dad, Tucker, across the room. They’ve got three tables jammed together with chairs packed around them. Lottie toldme Noah and Carson were coming too, so I hope to hell they’re here already.

Tucker waves when he sees me making my way across the room. Cooper is giving me a mean mug, and my stomach sinks. I was really hoping I was just being dramatic.

Seems I should brace for that punch.

“Stop it.” Tucker elbows Cooper.

“What? He deserves to squirm for a minute.”

“He does not. You know exactly what he was doing.” Tucker gives him a look. “Protecting your daughter.”

“Yeah, yeah. I just hoped maybe I wouldn’t actually lose my daughter to the guy.”

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