Unexpected (The Protectors 10)

I lifted my eyes to find Reese standing at the end of the section of the garden I was working in.

“Yeah?” I said as I practically stumbled to my feet. “Everything okay?”

“Um, yeah,” Reese said. He had his quad cane with him, but I was glad to see that he wasn’t leaning on it too much. Every day I saw a little more progress with his ability to walk and while I was overjoyed, I also knew that it meant our time together was coming to an end.

Just like my time with Nash and Gage was coming to an end.

I’d been obsessing over that fact ever since the wedding four days earlier. Almost as much as I still obsessed over what would happen when Reese discovered the truth.

I knew Gage and Nash were frustrated with me that I wouldn’t just talk to Reese about the relationship the three of us had found, but they just couldn’t understand that I knew better than them what would happen if I did say anything. Reese wouldn’t just turn away from me forever, he’d likely turn away from Gage too, maybe even Ronan’s group. Then he’d once again be adrift. I couldn’t allow that. I could deal with him hating me, but not Gage and Ronan too. They were all he had.

“No, actually,” Reese said after a moment. “Gage called a few minutes ago. He and Phillipe are stuck in traffic and won’t make it back in time before I need to leave for my therapy appointment.”

“Oh, um, okay. You can use our car, but should you really be driving yet?” I asked. Before I even gave him time to answer I said, “I’ll get Nash to drive you.”

I knew Nash wouldn’t like leaving me alone, but he’d do it if I asked him to. He’d gotten a lot more lenient with needing to have eyes on me at all times in the past few weeks. He often spent his days helping Gage around the house. As far as I knew, he was currently in the barn fixing a loose board in one of the stalls.

I began to move past Reese, but he caught me off guard when he grabbed my arm. He almost immediately dropped it, but the move did the trick. I came to a grinding halt in front of him.

When was the last time he touched me?

“I was wondering if you could take me… or come with me, I guess, since Nash probably needs to come too.”

My throat was so tight, I could barely speak. I managed what had to be a jerky nod. “Um, yeah… yeah,” I said, my voice growing louder with each word.

I couldn’t believe it.

He was talking to me… he… God, he wanted me with him?

I knew I couldn’t jump to conclusions, but it was hard not to hope that this was the moment I’d been waiting more than two months for.

“I mean, yeah, Nash will probably want to come, but yeah, I’ll come. Absolutely.”

“Okay, but we need to leave now so I’m not late.”

“Of course, yes,” I stammered. “I’ll get Nash and we’ll meet you at the car. I just need to wash my hands.”

I was talking and moving at the same time.

My son is speaking to me.

I was in such disbelief over that fact that I was practically shaking by the time I reached the barn. “Nash! Nash!”

I heard something crash in the barn and then Nash came flying out of it, gun drawn.

“What? What is it?” he yelled as he began scanning the back yard. He grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him.

“No, it’s… no,” I said as I grabbed his arm and turned him around. “It’s fine. Reese needs us to drive him to his therapy session.”

“What?” Nash asked, completely confused. He was still looking for danger.

“Nash, we need to go. Reese asked me to take him because Gage and Phillipe are stuck in traffic. But we need to go right now.”

“Everett, calm down,” Nash said.

I knew I was making a fool of myself, but I didn’t care.

“Nash, please, I know I’m being an idiot, but please, can we just go? I don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Nash studied me for a moment, then checked the back yard once more. Reese had already made it to the house, so it was just us. He bent and brushed his mouth over mine in the swiftest of kisses. “Okay, let’s go,” he said as he grabbed my arm and led me to the house. I rushed through washing my hands and managed to meet Reese at the front door.

“Nash is pulling the car around,” I said nervously.

Reese nodded. I opened the door for him and then followed him through it. I expected him to head for the ramp Gage had built for him, but he went for the stairs instead. I held my tongue as he carefully worked his way down each step, leaning heavily on the cane for support. I really wanted to take his arm to offer him something else to lean on in case he needed it, but I wasn’t about to push my luck with him.