Page 103 of Guarded Deputy
“I’ll see you later. I’m getting home.”
“Now? I mean, who cares? It doesn’t matter when you get home. It’s not my business to keep tabs on you,” she rambles.
“Breathe, babe. I had to go to the station after work. Your uncle wanted to have a little chat.”
“Oh. No.”
“Oh, yes. Don’t worry, though. We cleared a few things up, and then he put the pressure on about the program at school. I’m pretty sure that overshadowed our relationship status. Although, it’s the first time a girlfriend’s uncle confronts me about dating his niece.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” she deadpans. “Just what a girl wants to hear. I’ll go into hiding now. Don’t bother showing up at my place. My dance moves and I are staying in tonight.”
“You’re ridiculous. I’m seeing you tonight regardless. We gotta show the town those moves.”
“Ohhhh, the town’s seen them. On more than one occasion. Especially when vodka’s been involved. I think they’ll be happy to never witness them again.”
I laugh at her comment, wondering how many times they’ve witnessed her moves. “But I haven’t. I’ll see you later. Don’t stress about the sheriff. I told him my intentions are pure and honest.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much.” If she only knew this was the distraction I needed. “I gotta go. Brooke is staring at me from the front door with a weird expression. See you later.”
“Bye, Deputy.” She blows a kiss, and I wish I were in person to savor her lips.
Stepping out of my car, I nod at Brooke.
“Hey, what’s going on?” My steps are tentative in case she’s also heard from our father.
“Wondering where you were. Dinner’s almost ready.”
Hooking my arm around her shoulder, I guide us into the house and close the door.
“I had to go to the station to talk to Sheriff McCall. I do need to talk to you about something, though. Is Walker in his room?”
Brooke looks at me with furrowed brows, concern lining her forehead.
“He is. What’s going on?” She steps away to stand in front of me and stares at my face.
“I got a surprise and unwanted message today.” Brooke’s brows dip and she tilts her head.
“What was it?”
I don’t even know how to tell her or find the right words without cursing the world, so I grab my phone, open the text message, and hand it to her.
Her wide eyes scan the screen, chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Is this real?” Her head snaps up.
“Seems so. Don’t think anyone is playing a practical joke on me. Can you believe the guy?” I throw my hands in the air.
“What are you going to do?” Brooke’s eyes glance up at me with concern.
“Ignore him until he gets tired of writing to me.” I shrug, running a hand through my hair.
The amount of pain that man caused my mother. She never got over him leaving. Until her last breath, she questioned what she did wrong to push him away. Not to mention the trauma Brooke and I had from waking up one day and not having our father in our lives.
“I hope to hell he does. I have no intentions of seeing him again. Who the fuck does he think he is?” She clenches her fists.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” Walker comes into the kitchen. His eyebrows furrow before he looks at the stove. “Is dinner ready?”
“Yeah, we’ll eat now. Help me set the table.”