Page 22 of Protector

I shoot Cal a grateful smile. I couldn’t even count the times Cal has had my back. I still feel horrible about the short time we lost touch years ago. We’d gone to school together since freshman year in high school. When I went away to college for a semester, he said it took two people to fill my shoes, even though I was less than two hours away. That’s when he started hanging out with Margo and Deena. They all worked at the same coffee house.

Margot is a couple of years younger than the rest of us and turned twenty-two today. Deena works with Catherine at the agency. Not long after Catherine started working with me, I was able to help Deena get the position with her.

“I think it’s sweet he was looking out for you,” Deena says.

Before I can answer, Margo says, “Hey, I thought your mom was an only child.”

“Oh…she is. He’s my dad’s brother.” I regret the words as soon as they come out.

“So, is your dad and Dylan here too?” Deena asks.

“No, they’re still in Greece.” The growing pile of lies will definitely cause me anxiety at some point. “Uncle Todd needed to be here for a few weeks on business, and we didn’t want him staying at a hotel.” The remainder of my vodka soda is sitting in front of me and I grab for it, down the rest. I don’t like lying to anyone, let alone my friends, and this is starting to feel so wrong.

Cal gives me a sympathetic look and rubs my back. He’s the only one who truly knows how hard it’s been being away from my dad and brother, how much it hurt me when they left. How afraid I was at that time in my life. The bitterness still lingers today and is part of the reason Mom and I felt calling the police should wait. Dad’s “family business” got a little dicey—drawing the attention of local law enforcement—when Dylan and I were kids, and with my parents having marital issues, it was the perfect excuse for him to run back to Greece, taking my brother with him.

“Enough of this chit-chat,” Cal shouts. “It’s presents time.”

Margo brightens and claps her hands when she sees Cal holding a gift bag. We all stare at him, he bats his eyelashes, then Margo shouts, “Well!”

“I want to be last,” he says.

Cal is notorious for giving “unique” gifts. Sometimes they’re downright hilarious, and other times they are just the sweetest.

“I’ll go first.” I pick up my gift bag and hand it over.

She makes quick work of digging in and pulling out the adorable little black Gucci purse she was eyeing last time we went shopping. Her eyes pop wider, then she throws a hand over her mouth. “You didn’t.” Giggling, she shuffles over to me and wraps her arms around me.

“Love you, Mar,” I say as we hug, and I pet the top of her hair.

Next, she opens a beautiful, stylish scarf from Deena and a book from Ali, who sent her gift with Deena.

When all eyes turn to Cal, he hands over the bag and clasps his hands together under his chin, as if he’s anticipating a big reaction.

Margo peeks in the bag and squeals. Several heads turn our way, and we all laugh. “What is it?” I ask. Cal wouldn’t even tell me in the car.

“Let’s see,” Deena says.

“I don’t think I should take it out.” Her cheeks are stained pink, and suddenly, I have a feeling I know exactly what it is.

“Cal…” I purse my lips when he looks at me

He laughs and moves closer to Margo. “Don’t hurt my feelings now…” He grabs some tissue paper and flings it out with a flourish. “Shall I do the honors, or will you?”

Margo seems to consider for only a moment before she grins. “Screw it! It’s my freaking birthday!” Coughing on a laugh, she lifts from the bag a hot pink vibrator with the wordsMargo’s Toy Soldierprinted along the side.

We all laugh and talk about Serge, Margo’s latest guy, as Margo proceeds to pass her gift to Deena who passes it to me and as the thing moves around our circle, we’re creating quite a spectacle. When she finally stashes it away, we have a drink and a toast, and I say my goodbyes, signing a quick autograph at the door when a woman about my age stops me.

The brief escape with my friends was just what I needed, a way to forget what’s happening in my life, even for just a couple hours. I hate that there’s someone out there stealing little bits of my happiness, my calm, but as I walk side-by-side with Brooks on our way to the car, I feel the safest I’ve felt in a long time.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Brooks

A knock at the door wakes me. I pop out of bed and rush to the door, opening it before grabbing a shirt.

“Good morning,” Shay says, hands on hips, scanning me up and down. “You sleep in jeans?” She’s wearing tight black leggings and one of those workout tops that looks like a sports bra. Probably because it is, her naval—and belly piercing—on full display.

I don’t let my eyes linger on her before I look down at myself, then run a hand through what I can only imagine is a tangled mess on my head. “Not typically. Guess I fell asleep working.” I was looking through more of Shay’s social media accounts. “I found a few comments from our guy that I’m not sure you saw because they were further back than you mentioned. Username: @Shaysknight?”

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