Page 43 of Tattered Souls
He shut it off, then turned to look at me. “You’ve essentially been alone all your life, except for Granger. You're not alone anymore.”
And with that, I watched as he climbed out, then rounded the hood.
I had learned not to try to open my own door whenever he was around, or one of the Griggs siblings.
He had the door opened, and then, carefully, I climbed out.
Wincing when my body shifted the wrong way.
“Think it’ll be easier if I carry you,” he muttered.
I looked up at him and then, well, since I’d already told him things no one else knew, I shared something else with him, “This isn’t my first time with cracked ribs, Garrick. This isn’t even the worst I’ve been through. I’m okay.”
I watched as his face morphed to one of anger, his fists clenched and unclenched, and then I saw that tick in his jaw.
But never, not once, did he touch me in anger, or say anything until he apparently got himself under control.
Once that happened, he nodded, then he offered me his hand, and led me up his driveway, his front walk, his five porch steps, and then into his house.
The moment the door opened, I heard everyone stop talking.
Talia was the first to see me, and I watched as her face grew stormy as she said, “I want to punch him in the dick.”
Harlee was next as she got a look at me, then she looked at Carter. “Take him with you on your next rotation and throw his ass into the ocean. With weights on.”
Lila tilted her head, then she said, “I want to throw him in the ring with Bronson.”
Bronson, who was standing beside her, nodded, then cracked his neck, “Gladly.”
Everly walked over to us and then asked, “I want to hug you, is that okay?”
At my nod, she moved in and gingerly wrapped her arms around me.
I wrapped mine around her and hugged her back, as she whispered, “So sorry, sweetie.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered back.
When she pulled away, Misty walked over to me, took in my face, and then leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on my cheek. “Frank and I already have bail money if the boys want to beat the shit out of him.”
I chuckled and then winced.
That caused her to wince, and before she could voice the apology that was brimming on her face, I shook my head. “It’s okay. And thank you.”
I took in the living room, and when I saw Linda standing there in the corner, I frowned. What was she doing here?
I walked over to her and asked, “Hey, Linda. What are you doing here?”
She eyed my cheek and the way I was standing and offered me a sad smile. “Heard that you were going to be out of work for a few days. I got worried. I called Harlee. I hope that’s okay.”
I nodded, “Yeah, that’s okay. Thank you for coming.”
“Tink? The doctor said you needed to relax. So, plant that cute ass on the couch. Yeah?” Garrick said.
And then I slowly turned my head to look at him.
That was when I realized that all eyes had gone to him, and a few jaws had also dropped.
I held in a snicker as I went and did just that.
