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“I know that.”
“And if she gives you shit, I’ll take care of it.”
Lily laughed. “Trix already offered to beat her up.”
“Well she can get in line,” I replied. “Family gets first dibs and I have a whole lot of memories to draw from.”
“Love you, Rosie.”
“Love you, too, Lilybug,” I said, smiling as she reached out to hold my hand. We both turned to look at Amy as she started to speak.
“Vera said the ride felt like it took days instead of just hours…”
Chapter 20
Vera
“How you doin’?” Charlie asked, pulling my jacket down my shoulders. “Damn, you’re sweatin’ like a whore in church.”
“It’s hot out here,” I replied, fanning my face.
“It ain’t that hot.”
He led me toward the truck stop bathrooms, his fingers entwined with mine.
“This should help,” he said, pulling a hanky from his pocket and sticking it under the bathroom sink. “Don’t worry, it’s clean.”
“I wasn’t worried.” The wet fabric felt cool against my skin and I laid the entire thing over my face, muffling my words.
“Only a couple more hours to go,” he reminded me, leaning against the doorframe while I let the cold sink water run over my hands.
“I’m nervous,” I said, staring at my hands. “Is that stupid?”
“Don’t know,” he replied. “Depends on what you’re nervous about. If you’re nervous about your parents, that’s stupid. You know I won’t let anythin’ happen to you.”
“No,” I shook my head. “It’s not that.”
“Then what?” he asked.
“I don’t want to say goodbye,” I replied, turning to face him. “In the back of my mind, I think that if we never get there then none of this is actually happening.”
“You know that ain’t true, baby,” he said softly, reaching out to tug me against him.
“The other part of me is terrified that we won’t get there in time and she’ll be gone.”
“Ain’t nothin’ you can do about that,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head. “Can’t get up there any faster.”
“I know.” I dropped my forehead against his chest and let the smell of his warm skin soothe me.
He’d been giving me the space that I’d asked for to figure things out, and I was thankful for that, but when the woman had called me about Gran, he was the first person I’d thought of and the only person I wanted.
He was far from perfect, I knew that. To say he was rough around the edges was an understatement. I didn’t think he’d ever been faithful to one woman in his entire life and I was reasonably sure that the club he belonged to was into some very bad things that he’d probably try to hide from me.
But he also kissed my head without thought and remembered everything I’d ever told him, from the color of my first bike to my favorite foods. He never talked down to me. He treated me like an equal, even when his voice was soft and sweet because he knew I was upset. He knew all the right ways to touch me, and back when I’d let him—he did it often. And he’d left me alone because I’d asked him to, even though he’d said he loved me.
As we got back on the highway, I let my head rest against his back and closed my eyes, trusting him to keep us safe.
* * *
The minute we were inside the city limits I went on alert, but Charlie’s body stayed relaxed as he took us straight to the hospital. He seemed completely calm as he parked the bike and helped me climb off.
“You got this,” he said, brushing my hair out of my face. “And nobody’s gonna fuck with you if I’m there.”
“Do you think he’s here?” I asked, swallowing back the fear that had been growing the closer we got to my parents.
“Doesn’t matter,” he replied, patting his front shirt pocket where he’d stashed our marriage certificate. “He can’t do shit.”
“I can’t believe we’re married,” I mumbled. “I doubt anyone else will either.”
“Got the paperwork to prove it,” he said with a shrug. “You ready?”
I nodded and started walking toward the entrance, my shoulders straight and head held high. It didn’t matter how worried I was that my father would make a scene, or the fact that I was somehow married without ever saying I do. All of those worries could wait. I needed to see my Gran.
The front desk was quiet and a candy striper took us straight to Gran’s room once I’d given them her name. Apparently, they’d been expecting me.
“I don’t think you remember me,” the candy striper said quietly as we walked down the hallway. “But I’m the one who found your number in Nadine’s bag. I used to go to church with you guys and I remembered how close you two were.”
“Thank you,” I said, barely paying attention to her.
