Page 26 of Unseen Danger
She could do this. Nevaeh gripped the steering wheel as she drove home on the freeway and continued the effort to psych herself up for the return to D-Chop’s estate in about seven hours.
She’d survived being in the same room with Branson Aaberg. Alone. The funny looks he’d given her suggested she probably hadn’t hidden her nervousness very well. But at least she’d gotten through it without having a PTSD episode.
Though she might have one now on the way home. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Then again. The slow breathing was supposed to help. Seeing Cannenta at home would help more.
She reached into the back seat of her pickup truck’s extended cab and managed to touch Alvarez’s ear.
The big dog moved away to stick his snout out the window she had open a few inches.
So much for trying to make the protection K-9 into a service dog.
A wry smile curled her lips as she retracted her arm and rested both hands on the wheel. Something about having any dog around was still a comfort, even if only for the humor.
The beats of one of D-Chop’s hits sounded from Nevaeh’s phone in the cupholder.
She grabbed it and checked the screen.
Sherinda. Work conflict, date, or money problems?
Nevaeh tapped the button for speakerphone. “Hey, sis.”
“I’m in a jam.”
Nevaeh pressed her lips together. No surprise there. Sherinda didn’t call for any other reason. Though that still meant she called about every other day.
“I have to take a double shift tonight. Can you drop the kids off at school tomorrow?”
“Um…” Nevaeh did the math in her head. She’d get off at D-Chop’s at six thirty in the morning. Should leave enough time to drive to Pops’ and pick up the kids to get them to school by eight. “Yeah, I can make that.”
“Thanks, Nev. They’ll like going with their favorite aunt anyway.”
Nevaeh smirked. “You sure it’s for a double shift this time?”
“I said it was.” The gratitude in Sherinda’s voice vanished as it took on a defensive edge. “I only did…something else once.”
Or more than three times. And one of those times when she’d lied about what she was doing had resulted in her sixth baby. The one-year-old boy was crazy adorable, but Nevaeh’s kid sister needed to focus on getting things together this time. Pops had spent enough of his life raising kids that weren’t his own. Nevaeh and her siblings were lucky their grandparents had taken them in. But Pops shouldn’t need to keep doing the same thing for more generations.
“Eyes on the prize, Sher. You’re almost set for the apartment, right?”
“Yes.” Her tone grew more insulted. “That’s why I’m taking the double shift, so I can afford it.”
“Cool. And I’ll help you move in like I promised.” If Sher made it this time instead of spending the saved rent money on a guy or a good time.
Nevaeh tapped the brakes as she pulled up behind a slow semi.
“You can plan on it.”
Nevaeh grinned. At least keeping after Sher was a way to give her the kick in the pants she needed to actually follow through.
“I’ll do that.” Nevaeh flicked on the blinker and checked her rearview mirror.
That black Dodge Ram sure was sticking around. It’d been two cars behind her for the past ten minutes. Of course, that wasn’t all that strange on the freeway.
“I’ll tell Pops to expect you in the morning.” Sher’s proud tone made Nevaeh smile again.
She slipped into the left lane to pass the semi. “Look at you, being all organized.”
Sher blew an exasperated puff of air over the line. “You’re so annoying.” There it was. The little sister Nevaeh knew and loved anyway. “Love ya, too, Sher.”