Page 15 of Peer & Coco

"Maybe she'll go away again." She grabbed on to his hand, holding it between both of hers. "She's disappeared before, and it's been a year since she walked away from Tyr."

He growled. "What's a year? In another, Tyr will be two years old. He'll know when a stranger comes into his life. At three years old, he'll want to know who that woman is if she shows up. I'm not going to live my life waiting for the fucking day Kelli decides to pull her head out of her ass and be a mother. She gave that right up when she abandoned him."

His anger was understandable. Kelli had put him through hell, and somehow, he'd stepped up and took care of Tyr by himself. That wasn't easy with a newborn when Peer had zero experience around babies.

"Just don't jump into doing something you'll regret." She rubbed his fist. "Did she tell you she wanted to see Tyr?"

She clamped her teeth together. Knowing everything that Peer had gone through and knowing Kelli's personality, she wanted to strangle the woman for the stress put on him.

He shook his head. "She asked how he was, and I disconnected the call. She doesn't have the right to know how Tyr is doing. Hell, she doesn't even know her son's name."

Her chest throbbed. She couldn't imagine not knowing her child. As far as that goes, she couldn't imagine letting her child out of her sight...ever.

"I wish there was something I could do to help." She scooted closer, not letting go of his hand. "I can't even say I know Kelli that well. We worked together for a few months before...you know, she decided to punch Lizzy and was sent away, but it wasn't a secret how possessive she was of you. Maybe she's still got feelings—"

"No." He took his hand out of her grasp and stood. "It doesn't matter how she feels. She lost any right to feel anything."

She nodded, not sure she agreed. Kelli would not only see Peer as a man she'd loved but as her baby's father. Someone who could be in her life forever if she chose to let him.

Unless Peer went back to Norway.

She stood and went to him, grabbing his arms and making him face her. "Things will be okay, okay?"

He gazed down at her with his hands shoved deep in the front pockets of his jeans. Not getting any reaction out of him, she stretched to her tiptoes and wrapped him in a hug.

An attempt at a hug. Her arms couldn't go clear around him with his hands in his pockets. Despite the awkwardness, she squeezed him tight and closed her eyes, hoping he would let her in to comfort him.

Nobody could be strong twenty-four/seven. Everyone else relied on him. As Treasurer of Slag, he kept the club afloat. He practically ran The Fire Ring besides being the main bartender. Even with her help, and the other ladies at Slag, he was solely responsible for Tyr.

He shifted. She let her arms drop and rocked back on the heels of her bare feet.

Before she could step away, Peer pulled her back and pressed her against his body. His arms locked around her tightly. Emotions clogged her throat, and her cheek hit the front of his vest.

She inhaled the leather scent, tinted with a smoky musk aroma she associated with Peer. Her stomach fluttered. She'd never had his arms around her before.

She'd pushed, playfully slapped, and one time even punched his upper arm when he teased her, but they'd always kept things at a friend level.

The way his upper body hardened against her and his arms tightened, stole her breath. This wasn't a man who reached out to her for support during a difficult time. He needed her for comfort, and she was loopy enough about him to take that as attraction to her, even though tomorrow, everything would go back to being roommates.

For that reason alone, she straightened, and he let her go. She gazed up at him, giving him all the understanding she could muster and stepped away. Retreating, she turned and headed for the hallway.

It was late. She was overthinking. Tomorrow, she'd think more clearly.

"Coco?"

She stopped, reaching out for the wall. Turning around, she held her breath.

"Thanks for being here," he said.

She nodded and forced herself to go to her bedroom. He was hurting, and while she wanted to go to him and comfort him, she knew it would only be adding more complications to the heavy stuff he was already dealing with.