Page 19 of Wildest Forever

She laps it up. Standing up and swooping Lainey from her highchair before cuddling her into her chest, placing a kiss on the top of her head then whizzing her off into the living room.

My eyes follow her over my shoulder before I am back facing forward and that's when all sets of eyes are on me.

“What?” I snap, brows furrowed, digging into my skin.

“Something is going on,” Riggs tilts his head towards me and I shake my head.

“Nope, nothing is going on,” I swallow down the nerves, coating my dry mouth with bitter black coffee that only dries it out even more.

“Then why do you need to speak to Ma?” Tripp calls me out and I throw him a dagger glare.

“Ohhhh, something must be going down then if you've said you need to speak to mom,” Riggs lets out a breathy laugh and my back is up in an instant.

“Nothing is going down, I just need her advice,” and Dixie's eyes light up as she leans across the table.

“Is it a girl? Is there girl trouble... or is it more of a crush?” I face palm myself; this is not happening at eight a.m. on a Tuesday morning.“I can help if it is, I know a few good chat up lines,” she wiggles her brows which gets Tripp's attention, turning his head so quick I fear he has given himself whiplash.

“I don't need any help, I just want to talk to my mom about something that doesn't concern anyone apart from me, okay?” my tone is curt as I push up from the table and toss my muginto the sink, the hot liquid pouring out and I instantly feel bad. Tipping my head back, I exhale heavily before I turn around and meet their gazes.“When I can say something, I will, but at the minute, I have so much shit going on in my head I can only focus on one thing at a time.”

They say nothing, they're all just staring.

“Okay, cool, I'll catch you all later...” I begin walking forward towards the archway that leads into the hallway. “And get back to work you two... lazy fuckers,” I grumble a laugh as I walk out the door and down to my truck.

I needed to play catch up at work, I had piles of paperwork on my desk. This job is more paperwork than action, but after everything went down last year, well, I am kind of grateful for the paperwork. I don't think I had it in me to look into anything other than a few loose ended cases.

The odd missing pet.

Drug deals on land.

Theft of livestock.

What with Riggs re-appointing Marty, Austin had became Livestock Agent. I didn't think he was ready but Riggs, Buck and the Governor agreed that it would do him good.

Marty was ready for a little more and had asked for Livestock Commissioner. Marty has kind of got a bit big for his boots, but again, not my place. Riggs made that decision, and I am a supportive kid brother.

Turning the key, the truck kicks in and I loop it out of the drive before I am riding to town. Parking in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s office, I lock my truck then walk along the tree lined sidewalk and push into Sunny's.

The little bell rings above my head and she pops up from behind the counter.

“Morning Pacey, you okay?” she asks me as I glance at the fresh pastries and baked goods that are stacked up in the chiller counter.

“Morning Sunny, I'm all dandy thank you,” my eyes lift to her. Short brown hair, kind, blue eyes, pretty face.

“Good to hear, how's your mom?” she asks, head tilted and I see the sadness that strikes across her face.

“She's getting there, just taking each day as it comes,” I give a soft nod before I am looking at the board. Not wanting to be rude, but each time someone asks me how my mom is, I am taken back to that hospital room, back to where my dad lay lifeless, where my mom sobbed over his body... that's the last memory I have of him.

And I fucking hate it.

“Good,” I hear the sound of her key fob unlocking her till, “what can I get you?” she asks.

“I'll have a white coffee, pumpkin bagel with cream cheese and a lemon muffin please.”

“To go?”

“To go,” my eyes settle on her.As much as I would love to sit in here and watch the world go by, I had so much to sort out.

“Not a problem, I'll get started on that now for you,” she says as I reach into my back pocket and slip out some notes before placing it on the counter, then slipping out a few more and sliding them through the tip jar.

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