Page 60 of Sudden Summer

“How’s she holding up?”

“Not great. I don’t know how I didn’t wake up, but she came downstairs in the middle of the night and swore someone was looking in the kitchen window. Shattered the glass she was holding and cut her good foot all to hell. Now she’s got wraps on both of ‘em, and her fucking wrist is hurting. Not to mention the damn bruises on her body. I’m going to kill the bastard.”

“Do you really think he was here?” Jessie’s face paled.

“Maybe. The guy fucking told her it wasn’t over as he fled. But I also think Birdie pushed herself too hard yesterday to get past something that was fucked up and traumatic, and that manifested into a situation where she was half awake. The mind can play weird tricks on people, Jess. Look at Lach.”

She nodded, her face falling.

“Okay, so what can we do to make Birdie feel safe out here?”

“I already told Colt and Hayes, but I think it’d be the right call to have Hawk carry his firearm on him for the time being. Kip, Denver, Travis, and Emmett—the new guy I hired—are always carrying, too.”

She nodded. “I’ll tell Hawk. Colt said it might not have been random, after all?”

I shook my head, furious at the thought of her being hurt once, let alone having to worry about the threat of something else happening.

The bedroom door creaked opened, as light, tentative footsteps came towards the stairs.

“Goddamn it,” I groaned, getting up as quick as I could and taking the stairs two at a time to reach her.

“Hey, Cowboy.” She looked better. More color in her face. Her smile brighter.

“I thought I told you when I put you to bed that you weren’t walking on your own anywhere today?”

“I had to pee. And I enjoy peeing in peace.”

I shook my head, holding my arms out to her. Birdie sighed, but she didn’t argue. She simply wrapped her arms around my neck and let me scoop her up.

I marched down the stairs and straight to the couch. If she was surprised by the fact that I didn’t put her down, instead twisting my body so that I was on the sofa with her on top of me, she didn’t say anything.

Birdie’s head rested on my shoulder as Jessie looked over from her place on the floor with Juniper. My daughter’s eyes were locked on Birdie, smiling a big, silly, gummy smile as Birdie blew her a kiss.

“Hi, berry girl. I missed you so much yesterday. Were you a good girl for your aunt Jessie?” she asked.

“She was an angel. God, Birdie. I’m so glad you’re okay,” my sister said softly with tears in her eyes.

“Getting there,” Birdie replied as her phone buzzed in her hand.

“Anything important?” I asked.

“No, just my mom. You know how she gets.”

“Did you tell her what happened?” Jessie asked, tickling Juniper’s toes.

“Oh God, no. I’m not sure I will. I can’t deal with her somehow twisting it to be about her and what she’s going through. She’s just asking for money. I’ll give her⁠—”

“You’re not giving her anything,” I mumbled.

“Of course not. I can’t…not with work. And I still want to help Lainey with her business.”

“I’ll pay for whatever you need to help Lainey with.”

“I can’t ask that.”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering. We’ll figure out something.” I pressed my lips to the top of Birdie’s head.

“Want me to tell your mom off for you?” Jessie chuckled.