Page 24 of Love Takes Home

“And what exactly did she go through?” Davis narrows his eyes at me. “What do you know?”

“I know that if you had paid attention at all, you’d have seen her close up and shutdown. She changed during her time with him, and not in a healthy way. He convinced her she wasn’t good enough, man. And with her past? It was the validation she needed to accept the bare minimum in life.”

“Then it’s your job to make sure she never accepts that again.”

“Working on it.”

“Good. And I’ll keep calling you whenever she thinks she’s sneaking out of the house to come hang out at the bar.”

“You and your dad are terrifying when you work together, you know that, right?”

“What can I say? I guess naming my kid after him broke something in the man. He likes me again.”

I look at Davis. There’s joy behind the words. He’s happy that his dad is talking to him again, even if it’s scheming behind Ginny’s back. I’m not going to bust his bubble. “I’m glad you all are talking. You deserve it.”

“Oh, and if you ever hurt her or make her cry, I’ll kill you.”

“There it is,” I laugh. “It’s official. I’ve had my life threatened by the brother.”

“Guess it’s meant to be.” Ranger slaps me on the back. “Let’s go.”

We head back to Boulder Canyon. No new news on the mystery woman or what her game is, but permission to officially make Ginny mine? Not a total waste of a day. Not at all.

Chapter 9

Ginny

Well, it’s official. Thefirst week of school sucked.

Everyone looking at me, judging me, finding me lacking in one way or another. Thank goodness my teacher friends have been there. Which is why tonight we’re gathering at Zach’s to celebrate the survival of the first week. We’re a mesh of different subjects, but all of us have one common goal. We love the kids and want to help them succeed. Quinn Kapostasy teaches history, Nicole Adams teaches humanities, Linda Pichler teaches science, and the former home economics-turned-kindergarten teacher, Miss Paula, are meeting me tonight. All of us started teaching around the same time and immediately clicked.

Davis has us set up in the corner, away from the Friday night masses, with two high-top tables. As soon as he sees me, he yells to Mack in the kitchen to start the appetizers. He doesn’t want five hangry teachers in his face. Smart man. Trish has him trained up good.

“Hey, sis.” He smiles, giving me a one-armed hug over the bar. “How are you?”

“As well as I can be, I guess,” I tell him. “Thanks for moving us to the corner this year. Probably easier that way.”

Both of us look around the bar and notice the patrons not even hiding their looks in our direction. He rolls his eyes and pours me a drink from the pitchers he already has waiting.

“How are they treating you at school?”

“They’re treating her like shit,” Linda says, sitting down at the bar next to me. “I mean, it’s like she has the plague or something.”

“Well, what are we going to do about it?” Davis asks, leaning on the bar to give Linda a kiss on her cheek, which makes her blush.

“I think she just needs to tell them all to fuck off. She’s so much better than that place, anyway.”

“Here, here!” Nicole adds, sitting on my other side and putting an arm around my shoulder.

“Guys, come on. I’ll be fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“It’s nothing you should have to handle.” Linda drills her finger into the bar. “It’s bullshit that nobody is looking at the bigger picture and seeing why you did what you did.”

Davis winks at me before turning to Linda. “And why did she do it?”

“I’m here, keep going. I already know what we’re talking about,” Quinn says, sitting on the other side of Linda and waving at me.

“Anyone who has ever been in a bad relationship can see another bad relationship from a mile away. He kept you from us. Strike one, big red flag. He changed how you dress and wear your makeup and hair. Strike two, red flag. He talked down to you like you were an object. Like he owned you. And he did it in front of others. Strike three, red flag. You’re out.”

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