Page 76 of Wandering Closer

“She has a restraining order against him,” Thoren adds as the young kid snaps some pictures. “Pretty sure it’s his rental parked out by the road there.”

“That makes this a lot easier,” the cop grunts, as the EMT comes over with his medical bag. “Let’s get you taken care of, then we can sit down and talk.”

The rest of the evening passes in a blur of activity. My arm was bandaged, and Thoren’s knuckles were cleaned where they had split open on Tyler’s face. I recounted everything to the police, starting from when I opened the door to when they pulled up. I might have held back a little on how badly Thoren beat Tyler, but the evidence was there.

Luckily, they seemed to agree with Thoren’s use of force, and Bobby talked all about how much he respected David, who hadtrained him when he was a rookie. I totally forgot that he used to be an officer until that point. After taking our statements and convincing me to press charges, they left us around 6:30.

To my surprise, Jake stayed the whole time, making my discarded pie for me and cleaning up the mess. Seeing the burly tatted up man moving around my small kitchen baking for us eased some of the tension. He cut us each a slice and brought them to us on my new couch.

“Thank you,” I say, taking the offered goodness. “I didn’t know you could bake.”

“I’m good with precise measurements. I have to be with building furniture, and it just so happens to correlate to baking,” he shrugs nonchalantly. If a woman can look past his quiet and surly nature, they are going to find a real treasure with him.

“You’re staying with me tonight, Lily. I need you in my home after today,” Thoren says around a bite of pie. He won’t find me arguing. I’m a bit shaken up and his bed sounds like exactly where I want to be.

“I can find somewhere else to go,” Jake offers quietly. I look questioningly between the two of them, confused.

“Jake has a gas leak at his apartment complex and needs somewhere to stay for a bit. It’s why we were on the phone and he was on his way over already. I said he could stay with me, which you can and you will,” he gives Jake a pointed stare.

“Or you can stay here,” I offer. “I have a change of sheets in the closet. Both options are open for you.”

“Your guest room is right across from the master. No offense, but I’d rather stay here and not listen to you two fuck all night. Thanks for the offer, Lily.”

“Good, now that it’s settled, I’m taking my girl and going home. We’re taking the pie, too,” Thoren says, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. “Her keys are on the counter. Come over in the morning for breakfast.”

With that, he grabs the pie plate in his free hand and carries me out the front door with Shadow hot on his heels.

CHAPTER THIRTY

thoren

Bros and Not a Hoe Group Chat

River :

Is Lily okay?

Jake :

The real question is why isn’t Tyler dead?

River :

Yeah, what he said.

Thoren :

She’s okay, sleeping now. I think I’m more angry than her. She didn’t look who was at the door before opening it.

Jake :

My girl would have a red ass for that move.

Thoren :

….

River :

---