“I want to go to cowboy school.”
“You got plenty of time to be a cowboy.”
He dumps a cup of water over his head, his copper Mohawk dismantling in an instant. He grins up at me, and I feel that part of my heart warm. The one that can’t believe that I get to be his mom. That I get to be the one to watch him grow. He blinks his blue eyes that illuminate his heart-shaped face. His slanted chin is the only feature he inherited from Rhodes.
Rhodes.
Every time the name slithers across my mind, my body tenses. I still can’t summon the will to understand what the heck I had been thinking. I didn’t even like him. I learned that during the two months wedatedfreshman year of high school. If you could even consider it dating. It didn’t take long to figure out what kind of guy he was. He was a bully, and he always had something foul to say to Cooper and Parker. Maybe my subconscious thought I was getting back at Parker. Delivering the best revenge for breaking my heart. Considering I was plastered, I’m not exactlysure what my thought process was. But in the end, even though it was a single mistake, I came out with the greatest unexpected blessing. And Rhodes…he acted as if we would be some instant family. But when he found out he wasn’t getting me along with the surprise baby, he never wanted a thing to do with him. Until having Trace benefited him in some way. He would show up. A year might turn into two, but it never failed for him to pass through and cause trouble for the sake of causing it. I’ve done my best to protect Trace. To shield him from the toxicity of his father, but the fact anytime I had a run-in with Rhodes, Trace asked to sleep in bed with me that night, made it clear. He knew. And it killed me.
“Clean as a whistle,” he chirped.
“All right, cowboy.” I hold out the towel. “Let’s get you home.”
Chapter nine
Parker
I’m sitting on the couch, my feet kicked up, my chest bare. The only sound in the loft is the low voices from the TV. Lonesome Dove plays, my tribute toAugustus.Rest in peace, Robert Duvall. This movie will never be the same.
I’m about to call it a night when my phone buzzes on the coffee table next to my empty bowl of cereal. I swipe the screen, surprise etching over my face at the words I see and the fact Laiken still has the same phone number.
Firefly: Hello Parker. This is Laiken Sheppard, your physical therapytechnician who will be assisting you in your rehabilitation plan for the next six weeks. I’m reaching out to confirm our appointment time and location for tomorrow. At our first session we can schedule out all remaining appointments through the duration of the six weeks to maximize our time. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. If I cannot provide an answer I will reach out to Dr. Whitaker. I look forward to working with you and hope for a successful rehabilitation. Thank you.
A laugh barks from my chest at her formal approach. As if we’re complete strangers and I don’t know every single freckle on this woman’s body.
My favorite one being the one at the corner of her lip. I shake my head, thumbing a reply.
Parker: Why the formalities? We’re already well acquainted.
I wait, my heart pounding.
Firefly: This is a professional relationship. Not a personal one. Please respond with time and location.
Shots fired.
Parker: 9:00. Loft at the Mayson Ranch.
Firefly: See you then.
Parker: Dream sweet, Firefly.
My eyes hold on the words. The words I’ve written to her more times than I can count.
Firefly: Do not call me that.
Parker: What should I call you?
Firefly: Try my government name. Has anyone ever told you that you’re insufferable?
Parker: Now that’s not very professional.
I smile, knowing I’d break her. But her final text comes through and another laugh erupts from my chest.
Firefly: Eat s**t, Parker.
She can’t even curse in a text.
Fuck, I missed her.
