“Small steps,” I said, making sure he caught the gist as I shuffled slower than normal, making my point. “Time. Each day…gets…easier.”
Kyle nodded, understanding. “Do you know who’s paying? Grizz said Dr.Scrub’s a club member, so his services were free, but the clinic won’t be. I need to know how much so I can pay it back. I don’t want a handout.”
I shrugged, not knowing. I didn’t involve myself with the club’s finances, but if I had to guess, Grizz was. He’d promised to help Kyle, and money was the way to better care. If there were an issue, I’d step in quietly and cover the bill.
“Yeah, when I’m able to, I’ll work.” His shoulders shook. “So, what’s up with you?”
I shook my head, smiling brightly at him.
“When you’ve been in pain for a long time, you recognize it in others.”
I stopped, stunned, but Kyle didn’t expect the sudden jolt, and I ended up yanking his arm. He was all skin and bones, and I was afraid I’d hurt him.
“What?” he asked. His eyes were wide, his eyebrows raised. “You can’t expect me not to see it. Buster hides hers better than you do.”
“Wise…beyond…years.” Realistically, I knew I couldn’t have protected him, but that didn’t stop my heart from wanting to tear into the people who hadn’t.
“Yeah, I’ve seen some shit.” He reached for my elbow, guiding me over to the fire pit to sit. For someone who was healing, his grip was firm.
“Tell me.” He dropped his hands between his legs as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. The movement reminded me of Thunder. “I won’t break,” Kyle said. “In fact, I’d rather listen to someone else’s drama and hope it drowns out the thoughts in my head.”
“This is it,” I sighed, gesturing to the new brace I wore around my hip. “No more.”
“You’re completely healed, or that’s all they can do for you?”
I wasn’t ready to admit defeat, so I held up two fingers. The therapists were happy to keep trying, but they wanted to give me a realistic expectation. I didn’t blame them, but I would never be the woman I once was. She was gone.
“Do you care?” He wasn’t looking at me, and it made it easier for me to admit I did.
“She…wasn’t…living.” The words slipped out, but I didn’t bother taking them back.
“Are you now?”
“Yes.”
I squeezed Kyle’s arm again, but footsteps rushed from behind us.
Grace was speed-walking up the path that led from her home to the clubhouse. She held JR in one arm, her phone in the other, and her ponytail swung from side to side. When she saw us, she beelined towards where we were sitting. She was huffing, trying to catch her breath, and I waved for her to sit on the log next to us.
“I can’t.” Her chest was pumping hard as she adjusted her arm around JR. “You didn’t order any baby stuff, did you, Aunt E?”
I shook my head. I’d left everything in my home the night the cartel had done a drive-by, and I hadn’t asked for anything to be replaced. It was nice to be unplugged.
“Didn’t think so. There’s a delivery truck at the gate.”
“Did you order it?” Kyle asked her. His hands reached out for JR, but when the baby squealed, he instantly dropped them back into his lap.
“No, that’s why the prospect called. I’m going to grab Dead and check it out.”
Kyle stood, trying again to take JR from her. The baby was wiggly, and she was spending more energy making sure he was secure in her arms. JR didn’t let just anyone hold him, so when he reached out for Kyle, I smiled, but Grace didn’t let him go.
“I know you don’t trust me, but I wouldn’t hurt the kid. I have siblings, so…” He dropped his hands. “Even if you grab Dead, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go out there. You didn’t order it, Aunt E didn’t, and I doubt Buster would without telling you.”
Grace paused, thinking it over before handing JR over to Kyle. “Walk with me, and we’ll see who’s in the clubhouse. The delivery drivers can wait.” She tried tokneel to my level, but gave up when her knees buckled. Her body was changing, even if she still wasn’t showing. “Are you coming, Aunt E?”
I shook my head. They didn’t need me, and the sun felt good against my face.
I watched them walk away, but when they were out of my line of sight, I tilted my head towards the sky.
