Page 30 of Shattered Hearts

I peer up at Macie’s wild green eyes. “Gray.” Her voice is raspy. “Are you injured?”

“Only my pride.”

Her head shakes, gaze sweeping over me, checking for blood. I hear a deep chuckle behind me. My shoulders stiffen in response, and I ignore the way Knox is staring at me.

“You have too much anyways. It’ll do you good,” comments Reid.

I bristle at his words. Macie’s hand grips my shoulder tighter. Of course he had to see me fall, again.

Running a hand down my face, my friend murmurs into my ear, “Ignore him. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, M.” I bite out, then wince at the bitterness. Glancing up at her straight smile, I sigh and let her help me to my feet. When I used to fall off as a teenager, I bounced right back. Now as a twenty-five-year-old; my body doesn’t take it as well.

Avoiding all their gazes, I pluck our helmets off the ground and hand Knox his one. “We’ll meet you back at the house,” is all I say, low and wounded like my ego.

“All right,” Reid murmurs, clapping me on the back, right where I landed. A huff of pain escapes my lips. Macie eyes me for a moment longer, not believing that I’m fine, before following her boyfriend back over to their grazing horses.

Waiting for them to be far enough away, I shove my helmet back on and lift the visor to mutter out, “That was a lesson for you. Always be aware of your surroundings.”

I don’t miss the way the corner of Knox’s mouth lifts, and I can tell he’s fighting a laugh. Honestly, I will laugh about this later, but not right now. Not when I feel as though multiple bones have rattled out of place.

“Thank you for teaching me that important lesson,” Knox snickers. “But next time an example won’t be necessary.”

My tongue runs along my teeth as I clip his helmet, listening to him chuckle his way back to his bike.

Chapter Eleven

Laynie

“My baby!” The familiar squeal echoes down the hallway the moment the front door swings open.

Smiling, I pluck Freddie off my lap—much to his dismay—and jump off the couch, racing towards them. Mum has her arms out as soon as our eyes lock. Wrapping me up tightly, I nestle my face in her neck, breathing her in. She smells of salt, shells, and cotton. It’s a fresh ocean scent that matches the slight kinks in her glossy greying blonde hair.

I can see why Dad chose to be with her.

Most of the time I think I’m nothing like them. That their lifestyle made me this orderly, self-competitive young woman. But, then again, Mum made the same mistake I did when she was only nineteen.

On the surface, we are opposite, but deep down, maybe we aren’t that different after all.

“I’ve missed you, kiddo,” she murmurs against my ear, making my grin wider to the point that my teeth are pressed against her skin. I never want to let go of her again. They’ve been on the road for five months, and as much as I enjoy the cleanliness and structure of our home, I’ve missed their company a heck of a lot more.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” I whisper.

I feel Dad ruffle my hair, sending an ugly cough sob out of me when Mum’s arms squeeze impossibly tight.

Footsteps sound behind me, then Sadie says excitedly, “Hi, Uncle Levi and Aunt Violet.”

“Hi, Sadie.” I see Dad hug her out of the corner of my eye. “It’s been, what, ten months since we saw you last?”

She gives him a weak smile before nodding. “A bit too long, I think. But here we are.”

Mum takes that as a sign to pull away, her hands not leaving my arms as she gives Sadie a small smile. “Hi, cutie. It’s lovely seeing you again, and I promise we will catch up later tonight.” Her sapphire eyes return to mine, and I gulp. “But I need to speak with my daughter alone.”

Nodding slowly, Sadie’s smile falters. Dad gently guides her towards the front door. “Sadie, I’ll need a hand to carry everything inside.”

Sadie groans but follows him outside, nonetheless.

Mum takes my hand in hers and leads me to the living room. Freddie has curled up in his usual spot on the couch, and I lift him, placing him on my lap again. I sniff a laugh at his soft meow, but he settles right back to sleep as Mum switches on the kettle.