“Is he?” Maddox hugs me, while apparently shooting Parker a warning glare.
“You can stand down, Maddox. It’s just a ride,” Parker mumbles.
“It’s never just a ride,” he mutters back but presses a quick kiss to my hair. “You good?” he asks as he peers down at me.
Am I? Not really. I could punch Jet Jackson in the genitalia right about now.
“Yeah. I will be,” I answer honestly.
Once I grab my purse and collect Trace from Cooper and Dakota’s house, we meet Parker at his truck. The same truck werode in on our first date. I figured he would have traded it in by now. Bought some fancy Chevy. Part of me hopes he kept it for the memories. Trace climbs in the back, his smile the size of Texas when he realizes Parker is sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Parker, my man.” He holds out his fist for the usual bro bump.
I chuckle. “You spend way too much time with your uncle.”
Parker grins, giving Trace his fist before he tells him to buckle up. Trace plops down, his cowboy hat slightly off-kilter.
“Y’all hungry?” Parker asks before he shifts the truck in drive.
“Starving!” Trace groans. “Dakota made some black toast. I didn’t eat it, but I politely told her it was gross.” He smiles with pride. “Because I’m a gentleman.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, making a mental note to send Dakota an apology text.
“Then I better feed y’all. I know your mom gets hangry,” Parker says before shooting me a wink.
“I do not,” I scoff.
“You do, Mom. Maybe you need a Snickers. I heard those help,” Trace chimes in helpfully.
“Thanks, buddy. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Five minutes later, we pull into the Mayson Jar parking lot, and for a moment, this feels right. Just the three of us.
Chapter twenty-six
Parker
Trace bounds up the front steps to Laiken’s mom’s house, his belly full and his hat crooked. Laiken trails behind him, just a step or two in front of me. I don’t plan to stay, but I’ll admit, I don’t want to leave. I need to. We unloaded some heavy baggage this morning, and she needs time to roll over all the information. Decide how she wants to move forward. If that’s still an option.
She probably has a raging hangover to boot.
“Thank you for breakfast,” she says as we reach the front steps of the porch.
I didn’t have to follow her home. But I did anyway.
“You’re welcome.”
She fidgets with her keys. “I, uh—”
“Mom!” Trace gasps from the porch, his back pressed to the door. “Tomorrow is carnival day. The goody bags!”
Laiken’s head tilts back, a groan falling from her lips. “Crap.”
“We got the stuff?” His smile wavers. “It’s my turn to bring the treats. Remember?”
“Got it on my list.” Laiken smiles, her eyes radiating exhaustion. “Let’s get cleaned up, then we can make a trip to the store and—”
“I’ll go.” The words are out of my mouth before she can finish. “Why don’t you go take a hot shower. Relax a little, and I’ll get what you need and bring it back to help.”
