Page 22 of Bear

“Just…save him, okay?” Pedro whispered, his voice cracking.

I swallowed around a lump in my throat at the tears in Pedro’s eyes. I crossed the kitchen in two long strides, hooked a hand around the back of his neck, and pulled my little brother into my arms.

“We’ll figure it out, buddy,” I said. “I’m not going to give up on him. I promise.”

Pedro sniffled and nodded, his face buried in my shirt. I wasn’t going to stand by while my brother threw his life away.

Chapter Eight

Shelby

I couldn’t stop smiling to myself ever since that day with Bear. After the picnic. After he’d driven me over the edge - twice - and I had marked him as mine.

The only thing to put a damper on my good mood was the price tag when I saw how expensive diapers were at the supermarket. Maisie burbled from her position in the cart. I tickled her tiny socked toes.

“Looks like you just might have to crawl around the apartment with a little bare bum, my sweet girl.”

Maisie giggled and kicked her chubby legs. I stifled a sigh. Groceries were going to cost more than I’d planned for. I needed to find a job soon or I wouldn’t be able to pay rent, let alone keep us fed.

“Moved on already?”

I flinched at the sound of Justin’s voice. When I turned to look at him, his gaze was hooded and cold. I gripped the handle of the shopping cart tight until my knuckles turned white.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice shaking.

Justin came toward me, his shoulders stiff, his tread heavy.

“I thought I’d drop by and see my girlfriend and our child last night. Until I spotted you with another man. That same shithead who butted into our business the other day.”

“He’s a friend.”

My voice wobbled onfriend, betraying me.

“Don’t lie to me, Shelby,” Justin growled.

Maisie’s smile fell. Her lower lip jutted out and her wide-eyed gaze fell on me, worried, searching my face.

“It’s okay, Maisie,” I said, wrapping my hand around her foot. I hoped I sounded stronger than I felt because I was pretty sure my knees were about to give out at any moment.

“You’re fucking him, aren’t you?” Justin went on. “That’s my child in your cart but you’re entertaining another man between your legs.”

Rage swept through me. I took a breath to speak when movement behind Justin drew my attention. Then Rooster swept into the aisle.

“Shelby, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you, darlin’!”

He shouldered past Justin and wrapped me up in a hug. When he pulled back, he kept his arm draped around my shoulders.

“Really loved meeting you at the Potbelly picnic the other day. You and your baby girl are always welcome to drop by the clubhouse.”

He gave Maisie’s toes a playful pinch. A small smile twitched at the corner of her mouth but her gaze still shifted to me.

Behind us, another male voice spoke.

“Rooster, did you get the beer?”

The broad, dark figure of Brewer emerged into the aisle from the other end. When he saw me, he winked.

“Hey, Shelby. Everything okay?”

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