Page 79 of Hot Damn
“Sure. Go check we have what we need and if not, I can duck out and get it while you stay here with Cami.”
“I don’t need a babysitter!”
Beckett grins at me. “It’s not you I’m referring to being babysat.”
“Oh.” My indignation leaves like the air from a popped balloon.
“I also don’t need a babysitter, but I’ll stay with Cami if you have to go to the shop. Let me go check what we have.”
Whitney is out of the room before I can blink. It’s always surprising how quick kids move, how much energy they have, even when you’re prepared for it.
“Did she seem off to you?” Beckett asks, his frown aimed at the doorway Whitney disappeared through.
“Ah…no. Why?”
“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it but something…”
“She’s probably still out of sorts after yesterday. And don’t forget there was the thing with her car. The drama around her post revealing her existence to the world. A lot has happened in a few weeks.”
“I guess.” Shaking his head, he turns back to me. “You’re probably right. With the move down here, the new school, the pre-season and now the regular season starting. It is a lot at once. Hopefully these few days away will be good for her.”
“I was planning to work while we’re there but now…” I shrug. “I might need to see if Deb can come with us.”
“Give her a call. Even if you feel up to working, she’ll be able to help and you won’t have to carry anything, you can get her to do it.”
“True.” Looking around I try to remember where I left my phone.
“It’s upstairs. In the bedroom with your bag.”
“Ah, right.”
Pushing up, I get almost upright when Beckett strolls out of the room tossing, “I’ll get it,” over his shoulder as he goes.
I can’t help the growl that rumbles in my throat. I’m getting tired of being treated like an invalid. Yes, I’m hurt. Yes, the bruises look bad. And yes, I’m slow to move, my muscles stiff from the beating they took courtesy of stone steps.
I get all that. But I’m still capable of doing things and it’ll help me recover if I move.
“He treating you like you’re spun glass?”
My gaze goes to the doorway. With a sigh, I continue upwards, using the arm of the chair to steady myself until I’m sure I’ll stay upright. “Yes. He is.”
“That’s normal.”
I arch an eyebrow Whitney’s way. “Oh? How so?”
“He takes care of those he loves. You should have seen him with Mama Dot. And whenever I’m sick it’s like his world is ending. He can’t do enough to help me feel better. I’m pretty sure he sleeps on the floor in my room. Except I don’t know that he actually sleeps.”
Her shrug is subtle, but her words hit me like a sledgehammer.
Beckett doesn’t love me. He feels guilty I got hurt trying to protect his daughter.
“I’m sure what you say is true, but in my case it’s the fact I took a tumble saving you. Although, I’m fairly sure you’d have saved yourself if I hadn’t been there.”
“I don’t know. He seemed determined. And after getting up close with him yesterday, I realized he’s been following me around the last few weeks.”
My muscles tense, pain shooting in every direction, and I suck in a breath. “Following you? Have you told your dad? The police?”
“I told the detectives yesterday.” She looks over her shoulder quickly before continuing. “And no, I haven’t told Dad because he’ll lose his shit when he finds out.”
