Page 64 of Bound by Desire
She reaches out and grasps my hand, giving it a squeeze. “Damn straight. Doesn’t mean I don’t want a good woman at your back,Deacon.”
I feel the damn tickle come to the back of my throat, and I fight to keep my emotions in check. “I’m good, Ma. You worry about getting better,notme.”
“I’ve always worried about you. Not a single moment of my life that I’ve had you on this planet have I not worried about you. When you’re a parent, you’ll know.” A cloud drifts over her eyes, more than likely imagining what life would be like if she never met her grandkids. Fuck, I don’t even know if I want kids at thispoint.
“Get some rest. It’s the best thing for yarightnow.”
She yawns. “It’s hard because, with you close, I just want to stay awake and know it’s not a trick … that you’rereallyhere.”
That ball in my stomach falls hard in my gut. Time. So much timelost.Fuck.
“How’s working in the garage?” she asks, changing the subject and distracting me from my morosethoughts.
Breathing out, I answer, “Only been there a coupla days. I’m low on the totem pole there, but since I know my shit, the guys aren’t too hard on me.” At least, not yet. That’s also because they’re backed up, and I’m pulling them out of that. They’re too appreciative at the moment to shoot a gift horse in themouth.
“You gotthis,Deke.”
“The job, yeah.” The other shit, I’m not so sure, which is exactly why I need to talk toCooper.
She reaches over, squeezing my hand, then gives another yawn. “Trust your mom. You are right where you needtobe.”
I don’t answer because the door swings open, and my father fills the frame. “How’s it goin’?” he asks my mother, not once looking in mydirection.
“Tired.” She gives another yawn, this one bigger than thefirst.
“I’ve got it, Deke. Head on out,” my father commands, coming to the end ofthebed.
Just like him to take over. Whatever. I need to get to Cooper and get this shitsorted.
“No, I want him to stay,” my mothertries.
“Angel, he stays, you stay awake. You know this. Best thing is for him to come back after you’ve hadanap.”
She lets out a huge sigh. “Sorry,sweetheart.”
I rise from the chair, lean over, and kiss my mother’s forehead. “It’s all good. I’llbeback.”
“Right.” The word comes out a bit choked, but she keeps ittogether.
Looking my father square in the eye, I see his jaw jumps with a tick. I smile inside. He’s pissed. Let him be. I’m done with thisshit.Done.
* * *
“You wanted me, you got me,”Cooper says, swinging his front door open as Iwalkin.
His house is a ranch-style that is covered with gray walls and has a huge rock fireplace. There are pictures of the family all around. It’scomfortable.
I’m happy for him. Happy he found what he’s looking for out there. Happy he has time to spend with hisBristyl.
Time. It keeps coming backtothat.
“Take a seat,” he says, gesturing to one of hisrecliners.
“Bristylhere?”
“Nope. Just you and me. Whatcha gotforme?”
His demeanor is calm and collected, reminding me so much of his father. Hell, even the way he looks is just likeUncleCruz.
