Parker shakes her head, sliding her own stack closer. “He’ll regret it in about ten minutes. Tops.”
Connor smirks, already riffling through his cards. “Hell, I’ll give it five. And that’s generous.”
The game rolls on, laughter and trash talk filling the room, Grace playing with a sly confidence that’s almost dangerous.
By the time the last hand is dealt, Hardison’s groaning dramatically, half his stack gone. “I call foul. You trained her. That’s the only explanation.” He points at Jas, then Parker. “Y’all are in cahoots.”
Grace just smiles, sweeping the chips toward her side as Parker snorts.
When everyone starts gathering their things, Parker yawns, hiding it behind her hand. Hardison notices instantly. “All right, c’mon. I’m drivin’ you home before you hustle me outta gas money too.”
She rolls her eyes, but lets him take her bag without argument.
The rest of the family filters out with hugs, promises, and a few more jokes, until it’s just me and Grace again.
We move through the quiet routine of bedtime. Grace struggles with her pajama top, her tired hands fumbling with the buttons, and mutters a frustrated, “Stupid…cloth…thing.”
I step in gently, drawing her closer and planting a kiss to her forehead. “When you first came back to me, you needed me to do this for you every night. And a part of me…well…I knew once you didn’t anymore…I’d miss it.” I do up the last button and kiss the curve of her neck. “You don’t have to struggle, darlin’. Not with me. Not unless you want to.”
Her words falter as she peers up at me. “Long nii… But…good.”
“It was good. But we ain’t lettin’ Jas make the queso ever again. If Emi’s too busy, we go with store-bought.”
She laughs. “D-damn straight.”
We slip under the covers, her body curling naturally against mine. She tucks her face into my chest with a sigh, and I trail my fingers over her back in slow, gentle circles.
“Love you,” she murmurs, the words soft but clear.
“Love you too, darlin’.”
Within minutes, her breathing evens out, sleep stealing her away. I hold her tighter, letting the weight of her against me be the last thing I feel before I drift off beside her.
Grace
The sunlight hitting the back deck is warm, though Parker and I both have blankets wrapped around our shoulders while Belle runs along the shore of the lake, barking at demons only dogs can see.
AJ hovered like a storm cloud until I pushed him toward the door with a grocery list and a hard, fast kiss.
“I need to be able to do this. To remember who I am with you and without you.”
He’d nodded, and if Parker weren’t here, I think he’d probably be calling every five minutes to check up on me.
She came over with a couple of Deluxes from Whataburger—and three orders of fries. We ate at the kitchen counter, not really talking, but just enjoying the freedom of an ordinary meal on an ordinary day.
I need more of those. Some of my memories are clearer now. My mom’s cookies cooling on the counter. The smell of cinnamon and sugar melting into the air. Her smile. But other pieces of me are gone—like pages torn from a book—and I’m not sure I’ll ever get them back.
Parker slides her gaze to me, concern furrowing her brow. “You’re quiet,” she says finally, then picks up the tennis ball Belle dropped at her feet and throws it halfway across the lawn.
“I…’membered more.” The words don’t like to come when I’m stressed. Or afraid. Sometimes not even when I’m happy. But at least they come well enough I can communicate what’s really important.
She swallows, hard enough for me to hear it. “Want to talk about it?”
I tell her about the time I tried to escape. About running so far and so long in the pouring rain. About being so cold, I couldn’t feel my cheeks. About Malone and Vincent catching me, and what came next.
“Eight…uh…” I try three times to finish the sentence, but I can’t form the words. So I make the sign for “days,” then spell out B-O-X.
The sob that tears from Parker’s throat cuts through me like a knife. I scoot to the edge of my chair and wrap my arms around her.
