Page 10 of Fall Back
Walker nods thoughtfully while he looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. Damn it. Now I owe the man a fucking apology. I hate it.
“I shouldn’t have given you and Morgan such a hard time. All I wanted to do was protect my sister, but you’re both adults and I should have been more understanding,” the words feel like they’re being ripped from my throat even though they are sincere.
Walker flashes me a grin that reminds me of the cat who got the cream. “I know it wasn’t easy for you to say, but I appreciate it, man.”
I nod once, my throat tight as the realization about the karma coming my way really sets in. Sure, I’m protective of Morgan and Cove, but there is only one of me when I’ll be contending with three Burns brothers.
Fucking hell.
“How are you going to deal with Noel? Fletcher and Huxley will be a problem too, don’t get me wrong, but Noel is your best friend,” he points out with a wince.
“He is my best friend,” I agree, “which means he knows the kind of guy I am. He should know that if I’m stepping in front of the firing squad that it means something.”
Walker eyes me. “You going to hide this thing for as long as possible? Make her your dirty little secret?”
My entire body deflates, and I sink back into my chair as I stare at him with wide eyes. “I would fucking never,” I protest. “She’s no one’s secret. She’s everything and I will not be hiding a damn thing. Not from Wintervale and not from her brothers.”
He makes a humming sound and nods. “That might just save your ass,” he offers like it’s a gift.
It’s not.
“If things go well tonight then I’ll figure out how to deal with Noel and his brothers. I won’t hide anything, but I’m also not going to do anything to make her uncomfortable. We’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Walker wipes an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. “That was so mature sounding man, it makes me all emotional.”
I give his side a shove and he slides off my desk with a laugh. He nods toward the clock with a smirk, “Looks like it’s almost time.”
When I look as well, I blow out a relieved breath. I resisted talking to Walker at first, for a lot of reasons, but it did help to pass some time.
“Looks like it,” I breathe out while the nerves I’ve been trying to ignore come back full force.
It feels like my entire future hinges on what happens tonight.
Just when it feels like the end of my shift is within reach, even if it’s not quite here, our radios come to life with an incoming dispatch communication.
“Available units, we have report of a multi-vehicle accident on Route 12 near the county line.”
Walker and I share a look before we’re both moving out of the station and toward our cruisers, our voices crackling as we both respond to the call. The last thing I want to deal with is an accident, but it’s part of the job. If I can help someoneexperiencing a crisis on the worst day of their life, then that is exactly what I’m going to do.
Carson will understand; she has to.
CHAPTER 5
CARSON
He’s late.
I shouldn’t feel as disappointed as I do, considering I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to say yes when he asked me out. But now he’s late and it feels like a big fucking deal. It feels like I missed out on an opportunity, a big one that mattered.
Part of me wants to rage and storm out of my house to track him down. I deserve an explanation, at least. The rest of me just wants to curl up on my couch and forget about the whole thing.
Going out into Wintervale on a fool’s errand would not jive with my whole staying under the radar thing I have going on. It would just draw attention to me and my presence.
Since I’m not quite ready for my brothers to know I’m in town, curling up on the couch wins out.
That does not mean anger isn’t simmering under the surface. It is and when I see Jared next time, he better watch out. I won’tbe able to control whatever words I hurl his way.
Another ten minutes go by and, much to my dismay, my anger starts to ebb into another emotion—sadness. I don’t want to be sad because Jared didn’t show up. That is the very last emotion I want to feel when it comes to this disaster.
