Page 9 of Pike
I blinked, allowing one lone tear to slip down before I gathered my emotions and stuffed them down so deep, they wouldn’t be found until my autopsy, which I hoped would be decades from now. “Thank you, Faith. I’m sorry for this mess.”
“Don’t be. I’m just so glad you’re here with me.” She gave me another squeeze and pulled back. “Let’s pack this stuff before the guys squish everything the wrong way.”
I managed a half-laugh. “Is there a right way to squish everything?”
“Yes, and they’ll do it all wrong.” She smiled and lifted the back door of the SUV with a smile.
Before I could say anything, I felt the burden being lifted, literally, from my shoulders. I gasped and nearly jumped out of my skin at the contact, spinning and ready to protect myself.
From Will. “Just trying to help with the bags.” There was mischief in his eyes that I didn’t appreciate.
“I got it,” I insisted and yanked my body, and the bags, backwards.
Will’s blue eyes glared at me as he gave the bag another yank until he held them all. “I got it.”
Yeah, this was going to be a long damn day.
“I’ll do it,” Faith insisted, taking one bag at a time from him to place it beside the grocery bags already stored back there.
Will grumbled and walked away, making Faith laugh.
“All done,” she declared minutes later. “Now where is my little munchkin? I gotta say good-bye.”
“I’m here, Auntie Faith.” Gemma’s sweet voice sounded, her favorite doll nestled in the crook of her arm as Faith picked her up. “You’re not coming?”
“Not right now, but soon I will and then we’ll get to see each other so much you’ll be sick of me.” Faith hugged her close and kissed her cheek. “Be good, yeah?”
“I will. I promise.”
Faith set my little girl down and turned to me, pulling me into another hug. “I’m not ready to let you go again.”
I wasn’t ready either but saying so would only make me cry. “This isn’t necessary Faith. I could just leave the state.” It would hurt like hell, but it was the best option. “It’s better than risking more lives.” Some days I thought I should’ve just died with Marcus and left Gemma with Faith.
“You’ll be fine Chloe.” T-Bone laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I promise.”
He couldn’t promise that, but I appreciated the effort. “Thanks. I won’t be any trouble.” I turned away because I didn’t want to see pity in his eyes. “Okay Gem, let’s get in the… car.” It was unnecessary because Will had already helped her into the booster seat and fastened her in.
“All good? Check the belt,” he instructed, his tone gruff but gentle.
Gemma tugged on the belt the same way he had, giggling as she did. “All good.”
“Don’t take it off while the car is moving. Got it?”
She gave an exaggerated nod. “Got it. Thank you, Mr. Will.”
He knelt down so he and Gemma were eye to eye. “Have we met?”
Chloe giggled again at his formal tone, shaking her head with far too much enthusiasm for the early hour. “No. Miss Ash talked about you lots. She said having a big brother was a blessing and a curse.”
His lips tugged into a reluctant grin. “Same goes for having a kid sister.” His smile was wistful yet sweet. “You ready to go?”
The question was aimed at me, and I blinked, looking up at those hard, angry blue eyes. His lips were pulled into a tight line that left no question that he wasn’t happy about this trip. He didn’t want to do this, and he shouldn’t have to. It was cruel and unfair.
“Well?”
I nodded and slid into the passenger seat, fastening my seatbelt and keeping my gaze averted from the left side of the car. “I’m sorry, Will. I’m sorry about everything.”
He said nothing and I didn’t expect him to.
