33
Chloe
One month later
Growing up, I always wished I could have a dad like the other kids. Even at eighteen, I was fine with settling for a stepdad.
When he fell from that ladder and my mom urged me to say it was an accident, she told me that it was my real father’s idea. That he was a good man and he would help us.
Captain Henry Barrett was the only member of law enforcement to show up to the body floating in our pool, and in that moment, I knew immediately it was him.
I don’t blame him for his decision to leave. That’s water under the bridge that I don’t bother dwelling on, and he’s more than made up for it. Though I don’t rely on him to help me.
He has his own family now. A wife, children, grandchildren, and I’d never want his support if it meant he’d be risking all he’s managed to build.
I could wish that I was living that life. But then, who would appreciate everythingI’vebuilt?
He’s always there in the background, doing what he can to make sure things turn out okay, and he does what he can to protect my mother as well, so he gets to live as far as I’m concerned.
I’m kidding.
I finish tugging the baby blue Lindsey LaRue sweater over Rue’s legs before I pick her up, carrying her across the house on the first floor to the guest quarters through the hallway under the staircase. There’s a bedroom, bathroom, laundry, and even a small area for cooking.
My mother had the house built custom, half of the top floor is mine and the other hers. She always said you should have all vital amenities on the first floor, in case something happens that prevents you from being able to use stairs.
As I come to the doorway of Elizabeth Mills’ room, her eyes light up when she sees me and Rue, and I silently thank my mother for her never-ending wisdom.
Elizabeth’s skin looks brighter, her eyes happier, the green in them more vibrant than Colin’s. And though she still moves gingerly to prevent falls, there’s a noticeable skip to her step as she moves about that makes my heart swell, especially when she shoots me a sly wink that looks close to athank you.
“Okay, so, Rue won’t eat again until six, but she likes to nibble on bell peppers before dinner.”
I lift the little Yorkie into the air and scrunch my nose as I nuzzle my face into her soft fur. “But she hates the yellow ones, only give her the red ones. And she usually goes to the bathroom right after she eats, so just make sure the gate is closed when you open the back door.”
Setting Rue onto the ground, I stand straight again, meeting Elizabeth’s amused stare. “Oh,and—”
“Chlo, we’re going bowling. We’ll be home in a couple of hours.” Colin’s hand finds the back of my neck, squeezing and sending a bout of shivers across my skin.
“I get it,” Colin’s mother interjects, lifting Rue off the floor and tucking her under her arm. “The kids had dogs growing up.”
My eyes soften as I watch Rue press her face into Elizabeth’s hand, encouraging her to continue petting. “Lucky.”
I always wanted a dog or a cat. I would have settled for anything, really, even a bird or a snake. But my mother was on the road a lot when I was growing up, and she swore up and down I’d forget to feed it. To this day I vehemently deny that would have happened.
“Okay then.” I lean forward and give Rue a quick kiss on her furry face. “Be good for grandma, okay?”
Colin wraps his hand around mine and pulls me away from his mother’s bedroom door. At the end of the hallway, he swings me wide and pulls me tight to his body, eliciting a squeal from me.
“You ready to kick some ass, detective?” I whisper, bouncing my nose against his.
“Always, Stark.” He presses his lips to mine, so gentle and firm at the same time. As he pulls away and smiles at me with a hooded gaze, I feel so incredibly desperate for more of him, yet completely satisfied.
I pull him this time, out the front door and toward his truck until we’re buckled in and on our way to Mickey’s for our first bowling league tournament.
The sun is setting in the distance, bathing the sky around us in a swirl of pink and orange.
“Do you think your mother will like it here?” I clasp my hands in my lap, keeping my stare toward the window, but I feel Colin turn toward me from the driver’s seat. He reaches over and gently sets his hand over mine, waiting for me to face him.
“She’s going to love it.” I didn’t ask what I wanted to ask, but he still heard me. I loosen my grip on my own hands, wrapping them around his and holding it in my lap all the way to the bowling alley.
