Page 65 of Goose

“Easy for you to say.”

Shaking my head, I squeeze his hand to get his attention.

“It's easy for me to say because I’ve been through it before.”

Striker’s eyes go big as he processes what I just told him.

“Bambi, I’m so-”

“Don’t be. It happened when Willow was kidnapped. I had nobody but Joker to help me out, so learn from my mistakes. Talk to your friends. Tell them what’s going on. Nobody’s issues are more important than your own. All I’m saying is if you need to talk, I’m here.”

Goose comes over and wraps his arms around me. Striker looks up at the both of us with a small smile on his face.

“Thank you, Bambi. I’m lucky to have you as a friend. I’m really happy for you and Goose too, and I am so fucking sorry for what you went through. Goose told Mav and I everything. It’s not fair, and we should have taken care of you.”

I shake my head as one tear falls from my eye. I brush it away, not wanting to dwell on the past anymore.

“It’s okay. Truly. The past is the past. I’m just happy to be here now. But let’s stop talking about that. You need to eat and get some rest, okay?” Striker nods and picks at his dinner.

I smile and stand up, turning to Goose. “I’m heading to bed, okay?”

He nods and looks to Striker, “We’ll catch you in the morning, man. Let us know if you need anything.”

Goose and I walk up the stairs to the guest bedroom. Climbing in bed, we hold each other all night long, just happy to be together again.

Chapter Fifteen

Goose

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MAVERICK AND I GETup before the sun is up to work on the ranch. All the animals are fed, put out to pasture, and we’re just finishing up milking the cows as the sun rises over the mountains.

We’re cleaning up when we hear yelling at the main barn. Dropping everything, we rush over as fast as we can.

I whip open the door to see Willow in the middle of Striker and his father, Bear. Both men are screaming at each other while Willow is trying to calm them down.

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