Page 71 of Protector

“Hey, pumpkin,” my dad says, coming around the corner. I’ve only seen pictures of him since he doesn’t like to do video calls, and I’m shocked at how different he looks. An older version of my brother, with dark hair, dark eyes but sporting a full beard and mustache.

“Daddy,” I barely squeak out. I don’t move to him, just wait until he comes to me.

When he finally reaches me, pulls me into his arms, it’s like I’m the one coming home. My body relaxes into him, any resentment or ill feelings I was harboring falling easily away. In this moment, I simply want to revel in the fact that my family is together, and two people I thought gave up on me have traveled so far just for me.

“I’ve missed you so much, Shaylene,” he whispers into my hair.

Looking up, I give him a smile. “Me too, Daddy.”

The three of us go to the kitchen where Mom is still working away as if nothing is happening. She greets Dylan giddily, then offers a surprisingly amicable greeting to my father.

The four of us have an incredible dinner together, spending the first half talking, sharing stories and memories from long ago, and catching up on our lives. As though they’re giving me that time before they hit me with the hard questions. I didn’t mind giving them the play-by-play of what happened and how Aaron somehow became obsessed with me from that one short interaction of him stopping what Brendan was doing to me. He can’t tell us all the whys and the hows now that he’s gone, but it seems as though he must have reignited some sort of feelings for me when he started seeing me become more visible and well known. I suppose that protective instinct came out, and that’s why he stepped in at the previous year’s show when that man grabbed my arm. It’s clear Aaron was deeply disturbed, but a small part of me feels sorry for him, maybe even forgives him; he did save me from Brendan, after all.

When we’ve settled into the living room with dessert—store-bought peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, just like we used to eat—Dad catches me off guard with a question.

“So, where’s Brooks?”

“What?” I look to my mom and then back to him. “Why do you ask?”

“Yeah, Shay, where’s yourboyfriend?”

I laugh because it warms me up to hear my brother, who’s twenty-six years old, talk to me like the annoying big brother he used to be. “Who said he was my boyfriend?” I shoot a dirty look to my mom.

“I just told them the truth. I didn’t use the wordboyfriend.”

“Okay, can we all stop saying that word? Brooks was my bodyguard, and now he’s not.”

“Honey, he’s a good man. I’m sure you can see—”

“Dad!” I stand abruptly, confused and annoyed by the turn of this conversation. “Please…” I move to collect everyone’s plates. “Besides, what do you know about him?”

“You think I don’t know what’s going on in your life? Your mom told me all about what was happening…since you didn’t,” he says, handing me his plate with a steady stare. “She was concerned about Brooks, so I checked him out.”

I was just about to head to the kitchen with my stack when I stop short. My jaw slacks as I search for something to say. Instead, I turn to my mother, but she gets the jump on me.

“Shay, it’s my job to protect you. I had to make sure.”

“I thought he was too old for you,” Dylan chimes in.

“He’s a military man,” Dad says with a deep, steady tone, “impeccable record, decorated. I couldn’t think of anyone better to take care of my little girl.”

His words hit me right in the chest—not just the love of my father I yearned for but more so the love for Brooks I have to overcome. My eyes glass over, and my throat clogs. I can’t do this right now. “None of that matters anymore. There’s nothing left between us, and I don’t want to talk about this,” I say as I head to the kitchen.

* * *

Taylor pops out of her private bathroom, brushes her gorgeous blond locks over her shoulder and smiles. “Okay, all set. You need to go?”

“I’m good, thanks.” I stand and grab my bag from her desk, ready to finally get out of there. “I’m starving.”

“Me too,” she says, leading the way out of her office. We head to the elevator, and she hooks her arm through mine. “Today was awesome. And we’re splurging, tonight. I need something salty. Like a boatload of chips. And margaritas too.”

“Sounds good.” Though we got a lot done today, as well as filmed some segments for the show while working, it was still draining. You can’t imagine how tiring it is to act natural, pretend cameras aren’t there and still try to be interesting. And since I spent the last two nights with Dylan and my dad, I know they understand I need this time. After our disastrous Brooks conversation, Dad told me he’d be making more trips to the US, regardless of what risks come with being here; he says it’s worth it and I shouldn’t worry.

As soon as we exit the building and hit the sidewalk, I hear my name being called by a familiar female voice, though it takes a moment to register. I swipe my gaze from side to side, then spot her coming down the street toward me.

“Oh my God, Jade.”

Hope and trepidation fill me as she closes the distance between us. I was able to get updates on Brooks’s condition for the first few days, but once he left the hospital, I had no way of knowing how he was doing.

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