“Hey, what’re you doing?”
“Just riding Boone.”
“Would you be able to pick Ethan up from the fire station?”
“Uh, why’s he there and why can’t you pick him up?”
“He’s there with Parker.” She ignores my other question, and I furrow my brows at the phone even though she can’t see me.
“Sounds like there’s two other people that could bring him home.”
“I’m stuck at work for an extra hour, and Parker can’t.”
“Why?”
“Lily, please go get your brother.”
“I really prefer to knowwhyI’m doing things,” I grumble, already leading Boone back to the house.
“Because I’m your mom, and I’m asking for your help picking up your brother.”
Just because I like to be difficult, I continue, “What about your husband? What’s he up to?”
“He’s working, too.”
“Clearly you two should’ve thought about that before you decided to have another child. You already had perfection the first time, yet chose to try again,” I tease.
“Right, we had perfection and then about twelve years later thought…we could do that again,” she jokes.
We all know Ethan was an oopsie, but I’m also sure they’ve spoiled the shit out of him, and it doesn’t change how they feel about him. They’ve always been amazing parents to me and to Ethan. That’s why I know she can handle my jokes and hassling.
“Yet, you can’t even go pick up your precious baby boy and have me doing it for you.”
We hang up a short time later. I get back to the barn, and untack Boone, not even bothering to change out of my dusty clothes before driving the short distance to the fire station. I complain to myself the entire way because I don’t know why this couldn’t wait until my parents are off work, or Ethan could just ride his bike or something. It’s notthatfar.
I pull up to the parking lot and see the grooming salon next door that causes a pang in my chest. Trish loves that place, and I hate to see it like this. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before the work can really start on it.
The bay door is open, so I walk right in because they all know me anyway. Though, as I walk in I don’t see anyone. I call out for Ethan, but the person that walks out is not my brother.
“Nope, no, no way. I don’t have the energy for you today. Hand over my brother and we can both move on.”
Parker smirks and keeps walking toward me. “I don’t want to move on, Lil.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Yeah okay. We both know how quick you were to move on.”
He’s less than two feet from me when he stops and narrows his eyes. “Last I checked, you’re the one with the boyfriend.”
“Yeah, well we all know commitment hasn’t been your forte lately.”
“And how do you know that?” he questions, but it’s not defensive, it’s more curious and almost taunting.
“Oh please, everyone knows that.”
“What? Do you think I just take any girl that shows me any interest to bed?” He steps closer.
“Uh, yeah pretty much.” I shrug.
I hardly notice how close he is to me now. I try to back away, but I can’t because there’s a wall behind me.