Page 25 of Derecho

Fuck. Her chin was wobbling. I should leave. I should let her fall apart on her own, because that’s who Lainey is. She’s proud, and she doesn’t want anyone to see her as weak.

“Hey. You did it. You made the hard decision. You left all on your own. And you’re safe here. I’ll shoot Greg’s ass so fucking fast if he steps foot on this ranch, okay? Hell, I’d probably shoot his ass if he showed up and you weren’t here, truth be told.”

Her mouth tipped down, and I watched the muscles in her neck stretch and pull as she swallowed. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Bath. Snack. Then let me look at that cut. Got it?”

“Got it.”

I walked my ass right out of that bathroom. And it might have just been the hardest thing I had to do today, which was saying a whole hell of a lot.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out the small first aid kit I had in the laundry room. I paused, only for a second at the bathroom door, holding my breath. And my heart shattered as Lainey’s soft cries filtered through the silence. Just one second Lainey—I just needed one second to drop off the first aid kit in the living room. Then I found myself standing back outside the door.

Lachlan

It was torture listening to her cry. To know I couldn’t go in there and comfort her. I should be calling Birdie. She’d want to know what Lainey had been through. That she was here, and she was hurt, and she was still hurting.

My back rested against the wall as I slid down, placing all of my weight on my strong leg. As soon as my cane was propped up next to me, leaning on the door trim, I let my head fall into my hands. I couldn’t betray Lainey like that. It was her story to tell. Lord knows I’ve held in some dark shit from my accident, and even after, that I didn’t want anyone else to know.

I’d been lost in my spiral when Lainey called out to me. I hadn’t heard her crying for at least a few minutes, but that didn’t mean everything was okay.

“Lach?” There was my name again. Quiet. Not much more than a whisper. I turned hard and pressed my ear against the door.

“Yeah?”

“Oh. Don’t come in. I just…I just wanted to see if you were still there.”

“I’m still here, Trouble. Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. Remember? I can’t get off the porch.”

I’d meant for it to make her smile, knowing she’d been with me when I first did break free. But there was only silence between us for a second before I heard her scoff. “Tell that to the guy who drove into town to rescue me today.”

Huh.

The drain pulled, and I heard water begin to rush through the pipes. A few minutes later, light spilled out over me as Lainey opened the bathroom door. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun, and as I pushed up off the floor, I couldn’t help but look her over.

Shit. She looked good in my clothes—really good. They fit her almost perfectly, after a few adjustments. The sweatpants were rolled a couple of times, the waistband sitting thick under her belly and over her hips. My shirt was pulled tight across her bump and breasts, but it covered her up completely.

Lainey cleared her throat. “I hope you don’t mind, I used your brush to try and get some of the tangles out before I put my hair up.”

“Don’t mind at all. How about we go sit and I’ll take a look at your leg?”

“It’s really fine⁠—”

“I’m still gonna look at it.”

She held up her hand, and it was then I noticed the other one was carrying the empty plate and glass. “I just need to set these in the sink.”

I nodded, watching her slip by me into the kitchen. I waited as she turned.

“Uh, should I sit at the table?”

“I put the first aid kit in the living room. I figured we’d sit in there…and talk.”

Lainey’s eyes went wide, but she nodded, her shoulders sinking as she walked in front of me.

She sat at the far corner of the couch, probably not expecting me to sit down on the middle cushion beside her.

“Leg up here, please.” I reached over to the coffee table and placed the first aid kit open next to my hip.