“Brody is going to take you home?” Keith parrots. “Who is he?” Blunt and straightforward, just like his daughter. “And where the hell is Reed?”
“I’m her boyfriend,” I answer. It’s the closest word I’ve got to describe this thing between Erica and me, even though it feels woefully inadequate.
“Boyfriend.” Not a question, but Keith shakes his head in denial.
Erica’s eyes plead with him. “I want to talk to you about everything, if you’ll listen.”
Janice steps up to Keith’s side, laying a hand on his arm and providing a calming voice of reason. “That’s fine, honey. Brody, if you two need anything at all, you call me right away. Otherwise, we’ll call in the morning to see how you’re feeling before we come over.”
Keith wants to argue, but he stays quiet and stone-faced.
Ed steps forward, addressing Dan. “What about Todd?” I don’t miss the frosty look Keith gives Ed. I figured they’d be friends, but there is no love lost between the two right now, that’s for sure.
Dan looks over his shoulder. “Family only for updates, I’m afraid.” But he winks and gives a thumbs-up, and you can feel the relief work through the crowd. “His family should be here any minute.”
Ed holds up a fist and Erica pounds it. “Damn near scared the speed demon outta me, girl. You’d best get home, and we’ll hold court for Todd until his family gets here.”
“Thanks, Ed. See you Wednesday?” she says, and the answering silence is deafening. “Too soon?” she says, laughing. But the laugh turns into a cough.
Janice holds out a bottle of water and Erica takes it gratefully. I nod my appreciation her way too.
“Let me pull the truck up and we’ll get you loaded up.” I almost hate to leave her alone with them, sure they’ll get her to change her mind about going home with me. And then I crack the smallest sliver of a smile. Someone change Erica’s mind? I’m not sure that’s even humanly possible.
I pull up to the exit door where Erica, Emily, Dan, Janice, and Keith are waiting. Surprisingly, none of them, not even Erica herself, stops me from picking Erica up and placing her in the passenger seat. I buckle her in and close the door as she calls out to them, “Call me in the morning?”
Janice nods, then makes pointed eye contact with me as she puts her hand on my shoulder. With a weighted breath, she tells me, “That’s my baby.”
“Understood.” Erica is important to her, and with one word, I let her know that I will respect that and do my best to take care of Erica the way she would. It’s a vow, a promise, and I’m a man of my word, so I take that shit seriously.
I offer my hand to Keith, who shakes it too tightly again, but I can forgive that under the circumstances. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t punched me. My Dad would’ve if some strange, dirty, rough guy had shown up for Shayanne. “This isn’t over.”
“Wish we’d met under better circumstances. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.” He doesn’t soften in the slightest at the sweet nothings I’m saying.
Emily hugs me. “Do you want me to come sleep on the couch and help? I don’t know if I can not be with her when she’s hurt. Oh, God, how come I didn’t feel it when it happened?” She’s getting hysterical.
I whisper, hoping Erica can’t read lips. It’d be just like her to forget to tell me she can do that and use the skill for maximum impact at the right time. “If you come over, you know she’ll put on a front.” Emily nods, her eyes glassy with tears again. “Tomorrow. I have her for now.”
I circle the truck, getting in the driver’s side, and Erica waves at her family. We pull off, and as soon as we’re out of the lot, she sags in her seat.
“Letting you know now . . . that took everything I’ve got out of me. I’m fucking toast . . . get it?” I lift a wry brow her way. “Still too soon?”
“Too soon,” I agree dryly.
She sighs. “No racing jokes, but I need to crash and sleep for a few weeks. Can you or can you not make that happen?”
She’s still got some walls up, but they’re crumbling fast. Exhaustion laces her voice, and her eyelids are getting heavy.
“I can make that happen.”
Sleep for weeks? No, because her parents are coming with some hard questions in a few hours, but I can make it seem like weeks if that’s what she needs. I’ll get her in bed, comfy and cozy, give her some tea with her pain meds, and make her pancakes in the morning.
I’ve got experience taking care of people, maybe not from injury, but from illness. Mom’s cancer, Dad’s broken heart. And one thing I know for sure . . . my mom’s pancakes can heal whatever ails you.