Page 8 of Silver Linings

“I’m not judging you, Lil. I’m judging him. And his actions are unforgivable. He’s lucky I’m here talking to you and not out there beating his ass for what he’s put you through.”

“Gunner, you are not my personal defender. You’ve been back for one day. You have no idea what life has been like since you left.”

“You’ll stay here.” His words stopped her in her tracks.

“No. I can’t. Like I told Gia when she offered the same thing to me, it wouldn’t be professional. You hired me to do a job here; to take care of your mother. It wouldn’t be right for me to burden you even more with everything you have going on.”

“Just think about it, Lily, okay? Promise me you’ll think about it.”

He’d closed the distance between them, his height causing her to look straight on at his incredible jaw and lips before flicking her eyes up to meet his.

“Give me your phone.”

“What? Why?”

“So I can put my number in there.”

“Okay…” she reached into her back pocket, pulling out her cell before handing it over to him.

“I like the picture of you and G.”

Oh shit. She’d completely forgotten about her background.

“It’s from the night I found out about Sprout. I was so upset. I came running over here to talk things out with her and your mom. We took that picture together after they helped me realize that everything was going to be okay.”

Gunner said nothing as he typed his information into her phone. That was fine. She had said it more for herself than for him, anyway. Everything was going to be okay. Lily would make sure of it, because that’s what Sprout deserved.

“I’m speed-dial three.”

His voice pulled her back, and she wanted to laugh as what he said registered in her mind. Of course he had.

“You just assigned yourself to one of my shortcuts?”

“Yup. Use it, Lil. Anytime you need help, I’ll be there.”

“Gunner, I’m fine. I’m okay.”

“Promise me you’ll use it, Lil.”

She sighed, reaching for her phone. “Still such a stubborn man.”

“Still such a stubborn woman.”

“I guess some things really never change.”

“Promise me.”

She placed her hands on her hips and sighed. “Fine. I promise.”

“Just go, Gunner,” Gia said as he checked his cell phone for the hundredth time during dinner. His mom was still asleep. Another meal made for her that she didn’t have the energy to eat. Gunner hadn’t been joking when he put his phone number in Lily’s cell. He didn’t want her to have to use it, but something in his gut said she would be calling. “You know you want to make sure she’s okay, and I’ve got things covered here with mom.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go, now. I’m worried about her, too. I saw the bruises on her arm when she was helping me with mom earlier. I’m worried if he knows we know, or he finds out that we offered her a way out, he’ll make sure she can’t ever leave.”

Gunner grunted in agreement, grabbing his bowl and placing it in the sink before he took his keys and wallet off the table by the front door and left.

Twenty minutes later, Gunner was sitting outside Lily’s house. Gia had sent him a text with the address as soon as he’d left. He hadn’t even realized he didn’t know where to go; he just wanted to make sure she was still safe.

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