Page 21 of When Autumn Arrives

Calder shook his head. “I don’t want this.” He turned to me, making eye contact. “It was fine when it was Millie. I thought I was okay with it then.” He finished the rest of his drink and Parker filled the glass again.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "What don't you want?"

Calder peered at me, worry in his eyes. Calder never held fear, he never stressed over anything. This pale version of him didn't sit well with me. "I don't want to share her."

"Oh, hell no." Parker stood, his chair falling when he did. "Fuck that, Calder."

Calder turned toward him. "She's going to think it means she can fuck around, and I'm not going through it again. She chooses one of us, or she has none of us. That's the only way I can do it."

"Well, Hen and I are sharing her just fucking fine. So no. I'm not giving her an ultimatum, asshole. You shouldn't have put your dick in her if you were gonna be all caveman possessive of her."

The kitchen door slammed open, causing all of us to turn toward the entrance. Without hesitation, I pulled the gun we had under the table and pointed it toward the intruder. People didn't just go barging into homes around here unannounced.

"Put that away," Shane barked, his hand closing around the door knob.

I obeyed, sliding it into the waistband of my jeans just as two Georgia State Troopers entered our home.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked.

"They're looking for Thea," Shane said. "She's not answering her phone. She's not at the bar or her place."

"Why are you looking for her?" Calder asked the woman standing in front. "She in some kind of trouble?"

"No, sir," she said, taking off her hat. "We just have a message to pass along, then we will be on our way."

"I'll go get her," Calder offered.

"Nope. I think I will." Parker stepped in front of him, hurrying up the steps.

Chapter fourteen

Thea

Kisses littered my bare shoulder. They were soft and warm, and judging by the scent of the outdoors, they belonged to Parker. I yawned, not wanting to open my eyes.

My body was already sore from Calder, and I just wanted to sleep.

"Nabi," Parker whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "Baby. I need you to get dressed and come downstairs."

"What is it?" I asked, stretching my hands over my head.

"There are two police officers downstairs. They're saying they have a message to pass along."

Adrenaline shot through me, and I bolted out of bed. Parker kept his gaze on me as I ran around Calder's bedroom, looking for clothes.

"Oh my God," I said, forcing tears away. "Is it Paisley?"

"I don't know, baby. They didn't say. Just that you're not answering your phone."

"It's downstairs in the kitchen," I explained, yanking my shirt on. When I was fully dressed, I ran out of the room, shoving past Parker.

God, what if it was Paisley?

I took two steps at a time, reaching the landing. Hushed voices came from the kitchen, and when I entered, nausea crept up at the sight of two police officers standing in the entry.

It brought me back to the evening I'd learned my father died. Just like this. Two police officers, one simple sentence that turned my entire world upside down. I'd remained calm then. I had to be strong for Paisley.

But now? Now there could only be one person this message was about. It brought me to my knees. Parker was behind me, catching me before I fell.

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