Page 110 of What I Should Have Known

She furrowed her brows. “Do you not think I’m capable of traveling by myself?”

“You got a fucking concussion, Kit Kat. You’re not supposed to drive until all your symptoms have been gone for forty-eight hours and doing regular tasks doesn’t ignite them again.” I dropped my touch from her face and resumed petting Muffin.

“Sometimes I hate how logical you can be,” she muttered and plopped her hands in her lap. “Emma drove me to the airport because she had a business trip she needed to go on, and Ford flew home before I found out you’d left.”

“He went home? As in to Louisiana? Why?” I gasped, widening my eyes.

“You’d know this if you’d taken your phone, dummy, because he tried to call and text you,” she grumbled with a crooked smile. “But his mawmaw called and said he was needed.” She shrugged her shoulders as my mouth fell open.

“His mawmaw called?!”

“Who’s his mawmaw? And I know he mentioned they hadn’t talked in like fourteen or fifteen years, but still… What’s the big deal?”

Digging my wallet out of my back pocket, I plopped a wad of cash on the counter for my soda. “That’s what he calls his grandma. And it’s not just that they haven’t talked since he was eighteen, but it’s been fifteen years of no contact because of some major family feud he won’t give even me details about. So, for her to call him is as big as when my father told us he had cancer.”

She slid down from the barstool as I scooped Muffin up from my lap. “That’s kind of a morbid analogy, Bernie.”

“Yeah, but not surprising, is it?” I winked at her as I waved at Mike who casually leaned back at the far opposite end of the bar.

“Where are we going?” Kat asked as I grabbed her hand and dragged her across the bar.

“To the bayou.”

“No, we most certainly are not.” Kat tugged her fingers from my grasp, and I paused.

Cradling Muffin in the crook of my arm, I raised a brow at her. “Why not?”

“You’ll call Ford and tell him you’re sorry for leaving, but we’re going back home. He deserves time to figure shit out with his family by himself.”

Groaning, I pursed my lips. “Fine. But only for a couple weeks. He also deserves support.”

She shook her head but smiled. “Let’s go, Bottle Cap. You have a mom and brother to apologize to, my parents to confront, and a whole lotta lovin’ you owe me.”

“Damn do I fucking love you,” I said and nodded. “Oh, speaking of your parents, what about the money issue with Wyatt?”

She raised her brows. “They said that because of Wyatt trying to murder you and shooting me, that Wyatt’s parents will be gifting the money to pay for my medical bills and square up the debt the ranch has.”

I exhaled in relief. “Let’s go then. We have like a thirty-seven-hour ride minimum to get home.”

“Ride?” She slipped her fingers back into mine.

I led her out the front door and pointed at my motorcycle parked off to the side. “Come on, my beautiful backpack.”

“Where’s Muffin gonna ride?” Her eyes narrowed.

“I’ll move her basket up in front of me. Easy peasy. Now, stop arguing and get your cute ass moving.” I slapped her butt as she walked by, and she giggled.

“Don’t do that in front of my dad. He’d probably shoot you,” she teased.

I grinned. “Let him try.”

It was time to go home. With Kat by my side. And I knew, however strange it may have seemed, Duncan was with me too—no matter what happened.

Chapter 35

BERNIE

Exhaling slowly, I stared at the front door. Most shit never scared me, but I was absolutely terrified at this moment. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I smoothed out the wrinkles in my dark blue Henley. My mom’s words echoed in the back of my head, reminding me that being invited to dinner with Kat’s entire family was a good thing. A positive sign that her dad was beginning to accept our relationship.

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