by Wilder, L.
Once she’d replied, I rushed out to my car and started driving towards the city. Half an hour later, I arrived at the address Lynch had given me, and it was a beautiful home—a two-story Colonial with an elegant cobblestone front porch surrounded by gorgeous trees and shrubs. It felt warm and welcoming, and all the fall leaves made it look like a home one might find in a magazine.
I’d barely gotten out of my car when I spotted a stunning brunette walking in my direction. A warm smile crossed her face as she asked, “Kiersten?”
“That’s me.”
“Great.” She extended her hand. “I’m Hannah.”
I shook her hand and smiled. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“It’s great to meet you, too. Conor has told me so much about you.” I’d only heard the guys call Lynch by his road name, so the name Conor threw me for a second but thankfully, I’d figured it out by the time Hannah motioned me to the front door. “Come on in, and I’ll introduce you to Reece and Matt.”
I nodded, then grabbed my things and followed her up to the house. When we walked inside, the farmhouse theme of her décor made the interior of her home just as picturesque as the exterior. I was still looking around, admiring the beauty of her home, when a young boy came dashing into the living room. “Mom! Mom! Mom!”
“What, Matt?”
“Reece broke my controller!”
“What controller?”
“My PlayStation controller.” Matt had shaggy, brown hair that hung below his brow, and his freckled nose was crinkled with despair as he looked down at his game controller and shook it. “I was playing, and Reece made me drop it. Now, it’s busted.”
The words had barely left his mouth when I heard the sounds of a walker and shuffled footsteps coming around the corner. Moments later, Reece appeared. There were braces on both her legs, and while she trembled slightly, she was able to keep herself balanced with the help of her little red walker. She had long, dark hair and dark eyes, just like her mother. Worried about upsetting her brother, she looked up to her mother, and with slightly slurred words, she mumbled, “I’m really swor-ry, Momma.”
“It’s fine, sweetie. We will get Mathew another one.”
“But I don’t want another one!” Matt fussed. “I like this one.”
“I’m sure you do, but things happen.” Hannah brushed her son’s hair out of his eyes as she promised, “I’ll call your dad and tell him to pick up another one on his way home from work.”
“Okay.”
Looking utterly defeated, he dropped his head and started back to his room. He hadn’t gotten far when Reece muttered, “I’m swor-ry, Maddie.”
“Whatever.”
“Matt!” Hannah fussed. “There’s no reason to be ugly. It was an accident.”
“It’s always just an accident.”
He continued out of the room, and moments later, a door slammed. Hannah immediately turned her attention to me. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. No need to apologize.”
“It seems like there is always something happening around here.” Hannah stepped over to Reece and knelt down in front of her. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“Mm-hmm.” Her bottom lip quivered as she told her mother, “I... I didn’t mean ...”
“It’s fine.” Hannah gave her a wink. “I’m sure he can survive a few hours without it.”
“M-mad.”
“Yes, but he’ll get over it.” Hannah stood, then looked over to me. “This is Kiersten. She’s one of Uncle Conor’s friends.”
“Hi, I’m Reece.”
“It’s really nice to meet you, Reece. Your uncle has told me so much about you.”
“Pret-ty.”
“Thank you, Reece. You’re pretty, too.”
“Hey, sweetie.” Hannah placed her hand on Reece’s shoulder and said, “Kiersten and I are going to talk for a bit. Let’s get you back to your room, and I’ll put on one of your shows.”
“O-kay.”
Hannah looked over to me as she said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.”
I watched as she helped guide Reece down the hall and back into her bedroom. A few minutes later, she returned to the living room, feigning a smile. “Come have a seat.”
“Sure.” I followed her over to the sofa, and as soon as we were seated, I said, “Your children are adorable.”
“Thank you. They are quite a handful.” She let out a deep breath. “Reece wants so much to be like any other kid and tries her best not to let her disabilities slow her down, but there are days like today when they simply get the best of her.”
“I’m sure it’s difficult for all of you.”
“It is, but we’ve been really blessed that Reece is still able to get around with her walker, and her speech is still holding. So many kids with CP aren’t so lucky, but at the same time, the bad days when Reece is in so much pain are unbearable for us all.”
“I can only imagine how hard that must be.”
“It’s overwhelming, and I feel so helpless.” Hannah clutched her hands in her lap, twisting them nervously as she spoke, “Conor told me all about you and what you’ve done to help others who suffer like Reece. Do you think you can help her the way you’ve helped them?”
“I hope so.” I reached into my bag and pulled out all the research I’d brought her. “I looked over the medical records you’d sent, and I spent some time this afternoon going over the pros and cons of marijuana use in regard to children with CP. I’m not a doctor. I can’t tell you for certain whether it will help Reece or not.”
“But you think it’s worth a shot?”
“I think you and your husband need to read over everything here and then make the decision you think is best for your daughter. You know her better than anyone, including her doctors and especially me.” I pulled out a bag of CBD gummies and oil I’d brought and placed them in her hand. “I brought both for you to consider. You don’t have to worry about Reece actually ‘getting high’ off of either of these. They both have a very low concentration of THC and are high in CBD which will help her most with the seizures and muscle spasms. If you decide to try them, start with a small amount and see how she does with it.”
“So, she can just eat one of these and not smoke it?”
“Yes. Most folks like the gummies better than the other edibles or a few drops of the oil work great, too, but you’re welcome to try whatever you think she will like best.”
“And if they work?”
“Let me know, and I’ll bring you more.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it. All I ask is that you keep this between us and away from your son, of course. I’m not suggesting you withhold this from her doctors. In fact, it’s something you might want to discuss with them before trying it. Just don’t—”
“Mention where we got it.”
“Exactly.”
“I promise you that I won’t mention a word of this to anyone.” Hannah reached over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“It’s my pleasure. I hope it will give her some relief.”
“Me, too.”
“Mom!” Matt called out to his mother.
I immediately stood and said, “I’ll get going so you can see to him. If you need anything, just give me a call.”
“I definitely will. Thank you again, Kiersten.”
I said my final goodbyes, then headed back out to my car. As soon as I turned the key, I noticed that I was running low on gas and groaned. It was almost seven and starting to get dark. I hadn’t planned on making another stop, but unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice seeing as there wasn’t enough gas to make it back home. I drove over to the nearest gas station and filled up my tank, but before leaving, I decided to go inside and grab myself a cold drink and a snack to eat. I’d just made it over to the glass refrigerator case filled with different sodas when I heard a familiar voice say, �
�Well, hey there, Kiersten.”
“Drake?” I quickly turned and found him standing behind me with a sinister smile. “What are you doing here?”
“Nothing much.” He was wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head and black jogging pants—something I’d never seen him wear before, and the way he was looking at me made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle against my skin. “Just running a few errands and whatnot. What about you?”
“Just taking care of some things.” Nashville was a big city. The chances of bumping into Drake off-campus were slim at best, and the whole thing didn’t feel right to me. I hoped I was wrong, but I had to ask. “Did you follow me in here?”
“Wow. You think a lot of yourself, don’t ya?”
“I’m just trying to figure out what you’re doing here, Drake.”
“I already told you. I’m out running some errands,” he answered nonchalantly. “Is there some law that says a man can’t come into a gas station to buy a twelve-pack?”
“No, but...” I knew he was up to something. I also knew he wasn’t going to admit it, so I shook my head and muttered, “Just forget it.”
I nudged my way around him and started towards the front. I hadn’t made it far when I felt a hand on my arm and was immediately jerked backward. “Hey, hold on a second.”
“Let me go, Drake.”
“I’m sorry.” He held his hands up in playful surrender. “I was only going to ask if you wanted to grab dinner or something? Drink a few beers. Watch a movie...”
“Are you being serious right now?” I snapped.
“Yeah, actually, I am.” Before I could tell him he was off his damn rocker, he added, “I know you aren’t interested in dating. You made that point loud and clear, but I don’t see why we can’t be friends. You know, hang out and get to know each other a little better.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“You’re making this too fucking difficult.” His smile faded, and his eyes grew fierce as he growled, “Why can’t you just stop being so fucking hard-headed?”
“I’ve had enough of this, Drake.”
I turned and, without looking back, rushed towards the door. Once I was outside, I ran to my car, got inside, and sped off. I checked my rearview mirror several times, making sure Drake wasn’t following me as I drove towards the Manor. As soon as I pulled up in the driveway, I parked and hurried inside the office to find Braylon. I was surprised to find Mia was there with him, and from the looks of it, they were in the midst of an in-depth conversation. I had no idea what they were talking about, but they were sitting oddly close, and Mia was blushing. The second they noticed me standing there, Braylon immediately shifted in his seat, creating some distance between them.
“Hey, Kiersten. I didn’t hear you pull up.” He glanced over at Mia, then cleared his throat. “How did it go with Lynch’s sister?”
“Good.” To say I felt awkward standing there in front of them was an understatement. It was clear I’d interrupted something. I thought back to what Lynch had said about Mia being interested in Braylon, and looking at them now, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. I didn’t want to ruin their moment with the stupid Drake nonsense, so I said, “I’m gonna head to the house and grab a bite to eat.”
“Oh, okay.” Braylon seemed relieved. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I quickly skirted out of the room and headed over to my house. As I started across the lot, I had an eerie feeling and stopped to check my surroundings, making sure that no one was around. I didn’t see a soul, so I decided it was just my head playing tricks on me. I had no doubt that my encounter with Drake was to blame for my heightened state, which infuriated me. Thinking of all the different ways I’d like to string the guy up, I stormed into my kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine from my fridge. I poured myself a glass and carried it into the living room. As I sat down on the sofa, I looked around the room, and a sinking feeling washed over me when I realized how empty it felt without Grayson there—which only dampened my mood even more.
I took a few sips of wine, hoping it might ease the knot growing in the pit of my stomach, but it did little to help. There was only one thing that could lift my spirits, so I grabbed my phone and sent Grayson a text message.
Me:
Hey.
Grayson:
Hey. How’s it going?
Me:
Okay. Would be better if you were here.
Grayson:
Can’t disagree with you there.
How’d it go with Lynch’s sister?
Me:
Really good.
Hannah was so sweet, and Reece is a trooper.
Grayson:
Appreciate you doing that.
Me:
I was more than happy to.
I hope it helps.
Grayson:
I’m sure it will.
How was the rest of your day?
I was tempted to tell him about my encounter with Drake but decided against it. There was no point in worrying him, especially when he had the run to North Carolina coming up. Like it or not, I would have to find a way to handle Drake on my own.
Me:
It wasn’t too bad.
Yours?
Grayson:
Can’t complain.
Just been busy getting ready for the run.
Me:
When are you leaving?
Grayson:
First thing in the morning.
Me:
I didn’t realize you were going so soon.
Grayson:
The sooner we go, the sooner we’ll get back.
Me:
I’m all for that.
Grayson:
Be careful. I might think you actually miss me.
Me:
I might. Just a little.
Grayson:
Right back at ya.
I’ll be back before you know it.
Me:
I can’t wait.
Goodnight, Grayson.
Grayson:
Night, babe.
When you dream about me tonight, don’t forget to throw in a little hair
pulling and ass slapping.
Me:
Yeah, I think I’ll enjoy dreaming of my handprint on that fine ass of yours.
Grayson:
Hold up! Not what I had in mind.
Me:
Not your dream, babe.
Grayson:
Touché
Giggling, I put the phone down on the table and was about to take another drink of my wine when I heard a tap at my door. I usually didn’t have visitors after dark, so I was a little hesitant to answer. But I forced myself up off the sofa and went to answer the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see that it was Mia. “Hey… You got a minute?”
“Sure, come on in.” Once she was inside, I closed the door behind her and asked, “Would you like some wine?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.”
As we walked into the living room, I asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No, I just wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.” I sat back down on the sofa and waited as she sat down next to me. “What’s on your mind?”
“It’s about Braylon.” I could hear the concern in her voice as she continued, “I really like him, Kiersten, but I don’t want to step on any toes. I love my job here and don’t want to put it in jeopardy.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mia.” Mia wasn’t only beautiful and sweet, she was a college graduate with a good head on her shoulders, and Braylon was a fantastic guy. He’d dedicated years of his life to the military, and even after he was severely wounded, he never gave up his drive to help others. As far as I could tell, they were perfect for one another. I truly meant it when I told her, “I think it’s great that you and Braylon have something going.”
“You do?”
“Yes!” I reache
d over and placed my hand on her arm. “I’m very happy for you both.”
“We’re not really involved just yet. I’ve liked Bray for a long time, but I’ve been afraid to act on it. Partly because I wasn’t sure he felt the same, and partly because I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.” She grimaced as she admitted, “I always thought you kind of had a thing for him.”
“What?”
“I don’t think it anymore. Now that I’ve seen you with Country, I realize just how wrong I was about that.”
“Yeah, Braylon and I are just friends. Good friends, but nothing more.”
“So, you’re really okay about all this?”
“I’m more than okay. I promise.”
“Thank you, Kiersten.” Mia reached over and hugged me. “I’m so glad I came and talked to you. I feel a lot better about everything.”
“Well, I’m here any time you want to talk.”
“And I’m here for you anytime you wanna talk about your oh-so-sexy biker guy.”
I giggled. “I’ll be sure and keep that in mind.”
“Great.” Mia stood up and said, “I’ll let you get back to your wine, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sounds good.”
Once she’d left, I locked my door and carried my wine into the bedroom, then changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed. The second I curled up with my pillow, I thought about Grayson—his handsome face, his laugh, and the tender touch of his hand. While I missed not having him in bed with me, I found comfort in knowing that I had a man in my life worth missing—and he was someone worth waiting for.
Thirteen
