Page 15 of My Cowboy Kiss
“Let’s go.” I put Courtney in front of me and start nudging her out the door.
“Wait!” Her mother bats her eyelashes at me. “You got any money on you?”
I keep nudging Courtney forward.
Deedee follows us. “I raised you girl! You owe me!”
Because I know from experience her mom can get mean when she’s drunk, I pick Courtney up and carry her to the truck. I shut the door as her mother rounds the truck.
“Aw, come on, sugar. Don’t be like that.”
Courtney sits straight, shoulders back, staring through the windshield. Her jaw is set like she’s angry, but I know her heart’s breaking. I’ve seen this before.
As I’m backing out, her mother is shaking her fist and yelling what an awful daughter she raised.
Once we’re on the main road, I reach across the seat to cover Courtney’s hand with mine. “It’s not true,” I say softly.
She leans her head back on the seat, beyond hearing me. “I’m tired.”
I’ve seen the aftermath of her interactions with her mom before too. They drain her to the point she walks around in a fog.
“Need me to carry you up the stairs?” I ask once we’re back at her place and she’s made no move to get out of the truck.
She shakes her head and unbuckles the seat belt. “I just want to sleep.”
“Need me to stay with you until you fall asleep?”
I expect her to say no like she always has in the past.
“Please.” She gets out after that and walks listlessly to her apartment. On the welcome mat she stands there until I take out the extra key she gave me a while back and open the door.
“Go inside and rest. I’ll make you a grilled cheese.” She loves the way I make those.
“Not hungry.”
I follow her to her bedroom, and she drops onto the bed, curling up and facing the wall. I can’t leave her like this to suffer alone.
“Scooch over.”
I kick off my boots and get onto my knees on the bed. I remove the decorative pillows shaped like flowers onto the floor, then reach for her feet. “Shoes.” I pull one of her shoes off, then the other and toss them off the bed.
Then I lie behind her and drape my arm around her middle. “I’m here.”
She suddenly turns to face me and puts her hand on my face.
My breath hitches.
“You’re the greatest friend a woman could ever ask for.”
Chapter 5
Courtney
I’m home, in my bed, and River’s holding me. I’m safe. I can breathe now. Each time my mother pulls her shit, I let go of a little more of her.
He smiles at me and it’s like sunshine after a bad storm. My heart picks up speed. I’ve always thought River was handsome. His looks combined with his good heart make him lethal to my no relationship rule. I’m feeling tempted. That’s why I bring up our friendship. “You’re the greatest friend a woman could ever ask for.”
A shadow flicks across his face, but it’s quickly gone. “Do you need a shoulder?”
