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She looked from him to Grady, who was already in the front passenger seat but had turned to look at her.
“I think I told you that’s how Joe died. Brooks’ dad and my best friend.”
“You did,” Steele said gently, brushing her hair off her face. “And that’s how you injured your back.”
“Yeah,” she whispered. “The thing is, Joe, he . . . he would have . . . he likely would have survived if he’d been wearing his seatbelt. But he . . . um, well, I guess he thought he was invincible. No one is invincible.”
“No, baby. No one is.” Steele cupped her cheek. “I’m really sorry that happened to you.”
“I survived. I wasn’t sure I’d walk again. But I did it. I got custody of Brooks. Joe’s will was clear. He had full custody and he didn’t have any family, so Brooks became mine. His mother’s family has never had anything to do with him.” Should she mention the call from the lawyer? No, she hadn’t heard anything more from him. “We survived. We did it. But without Joe . . . it was hard.”
“You loved him?” Grady asked.
“Yeah. I loved him.” She didn’t try to deny it or justify it by saying he was her best friend. She just laid it out there.
Both men stared at her for a long moment. Then something sweet happened. Something so sweet that she knew she’d savor it for a long time.
Steele leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead. Nothing else. Just that soft touch before he drew back and shut the door, walking around to the driver’s door.
She let out a shuddering breath before an even sweeter thing happened as she did her seatbelt up.
Gardy reached back and squeezed her leg. “Sorry about your best friend, Twinkletoes.”
“Me too.”
They were silent as they drove and she knew it was her fault. She’d ruined things by getting too real.
People don’t want to know your problems, Effie.
Be a good girl. Be happy. Smile.
“So? Where are we going?” she asked with a smile. “It’s a nice day, isn’t it?”
They stared at each other.
“Baby, it’s gray and cold as fuck,” Steele replied.
“Um, yes. But at least it’s not raining or snowing, right? It can always be worse. This is a really nice truck. You take excellent care of it.”
There wasn’t even any dust. Or trash. Yikes, when she’d owned a car, that thing had been trashed.
“Gets us from point a to b,” Steele said.
“Ah, right. So, what do you guys like to do on your days off?”
“You mean besides kidnapping our assistant?” Grady asked.
She stilled. “Um.”
Grady turned to her. “Joking.”
“You know how to do that?” she asked before she thought better of it.
“What?” Grady asked.
“Joke?”
His eyes widened as he stared at her.
