“I’d like that,” I tell her as I follow her out of the first barn and into the next.
“Hmm, I think you might have a slight sensitivity to hay,” Abyss says as he stares down at my swollen eyes.
“You think?” I ask. I know my tone is a bit snarky but how in the hell was I to know that I would be allergic? It wasn’t until Issy and I returned to everyone else that my eyes started itching. Now, they’re nearly swollen shut despite the antihistamine that someone named Doc gave me, and my nose is red and raw from all the sneezing I’ve done. Quite bluntly, I’m miserable and if one more person asks me if I’m okay, I might just scream.
Okay, I won’t really scream because that would be rude and go against everything that Marcella taught me. But Iwantto, that’s for dang sure. Instead, I’ve been sitting near Livy, whose little boy is absolutely adorable, and talking to her, as well as a woman named Marge. She apparently works for the club at their laundromat, and while she’s a bit rough around the edges, I like her. There are a bunch of women here from a place called Hope House, which explains all the kid-oriented activities that I saw, since there are a bunch of children running around.
Even though my heart hurts at what might’ve been, I can’t help but smile at their enthusiasm and excitement, especially when an ice cream truck pulls up ‘just for them’ according to Issy. Not that the adults didn’t also get in line, but it was after all the kids had been served.
“Do you need me to run you home?” he asks, ignoring my surliness.
“No, thank you. I’m sorry I’m being a bitch, too,” I reply. “I was going to ask Issy if she ever gave lessons because I’ve always wanted to learn to ride a horse, but that’s probably not a good idea now.”
“Sweetheart, you’re handling it better than the majority of my brothers would, that’s for sure. And I can teach you how to ride if you wanna learn. We’ll just make sure you don’t go into the barn, and I’ll check with Doc to see if there’s anything you can take pre-emptively to keep you from reacting so badly,” he says.
As my heart rate speeds up just thinking about him teaching me how to ride, I pull myself back. Despite all the work I’ve done these past six years, I still feel broken and incapable of opening myself to someone else. “Can we play it by ear?” I ask.
“Absolutely. Now, let’s go get some food. The women have it all put out and if we wait too much longer, my brothers will wipe it all out. I want some of that banana pudding,” he replies.
He helps me up and I’m kind of glad for the allergic reaction right now.
Because he has no way of knowing whether or not my flushed cheeks are from his touch or not.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Abyss
The longer I’maround Shelly, the more I’m attracted to her. Since she came to town, the shop hasneverlooked better or been more organized, and there’s been a steady uptick in new clients. I’m sure some of it is due to the fact that the Kings are well-known and people want to be able to have bragging rights about where they got their tattoo done, but most of it is because both she and Mack have built solid reputations within the tattooing community. All I know is the increased foot traffic, from appointments to walk-ins, has Nerd practically chortling with glee.
“Have you met Beth yet?” I ask as we take our plates to one of the tables that the prospects set up. “She’s with Hope House and does their counseling.”
“No, I haven’t,” she replies, holding her hand out once she sets her plate down. “I’m Shelly Adcock, how are you?”
“I’m well,” Beth tells her.
“I’m sorry, I don’t really know much about Hope House, but I see there are a lot of kids running around,” Shelly says.
“I guess the best way to describe Hope House is to say it’s a place for women to get their lives back, regardless of the reason. So, the kids aspect ebbs and flows depending on whether or not the woman has children. Sometimes, we have a house of women, others it’s complete chaos,” Beth replies. “I provide group and individual counseling services for the women who live there.”
I see Shelly’s shoulders drop slightly when she asks, “So, you don’t have a private practice?”
Beth glances at me and I shrug because I have no clue about why Shelly would ask her that question. I mean, I can tell she’s had pain in her past, it rides in her eyes even when she’s smiling or joking around at the shop. But I want to know why, which is so unlike me I’m not sure how to process it to be honest. Rio and Issy, to my way of thinking, were a foregone conclusion, they just didn’t see it because of their longstanding friendship, having grown up with one another. Now, BamBam and Livy? Completely out of the blue, but seeing the lengths my brother went to help his ol’ lady heal was awe inspiring, and watching the two of them along with Theo, who Bam claims as his son, as they continue on their new life has had me wanting what both of my brothers have—someone at my side that I can love and cherish, and eventually build a family with who will understand that sometimes, as a brother in the Kings, there will be things I cannot discuss. But they’ll always be protected by every man who wears the same patch I do.
“I have the ability to take on patients,” Beth says, handing her a card. “Have whoever it is who needs to schedule something reach out to me.”
Shelly takes the card and slides it into the back pocket of her shorts. “Thanks.”
“Not a problem,” Beth replies. “Now, I see I missed out on banana pudding, so I need to go get some,” she says, grinning.
“She’s not wrong about the pudding,” I say, having already begun eating mine. If I wasn’t mindful that I’m surrounded by people, I’d be scarfing it down. “It’s fucking great.”
“Didn’t your mom teach you that you’re supposed to eat your food before dessert?” she questions, grinning at me.
“Maybe so, but I live by the old saying that life’s too short so eat dessert first,” I deadpan.
The lyrical giggle that bursts from her lips has me vowing that I’ll do whatever I can to ensure it happens on a daily basis. She’s shaking her head, and for once, her smile lights up her eyes and I find myself more captivated.
