“What happened?” I head to my trunk and open up a first aid kit. “And where are your injuries?” I don’t have anything to clean her up with and I doubt being sprayed with a water bottle is going to be helpful.
“O’Malley or O’Cry Me A River tossers tried to kidnap me and take me to their boss or some shit. I sent them all back to him in pieces, left the driver alive. But they managed to get a few good hits in on the way, and the fuckin’ wankers drugged me too. Got a nice crack on my head from passing out but I cleaned it up with a leaf, so probably just my knee that’s fuckin’ me rightnow. Anything in there I can wrap it with?” Leaning against my car, she grins and flutters her lashes like she’s up to something…because she certainly isn’t trying to flirt with me.
“Can you roll up the leg of those yoga pants?” It looks swollen, I need to see and touch it to figure out what’s wrong.
“Nah, just wrap it over my clothes. It’ll be fine until we get to somewhere not in the middle of the woods.” She grabs the bandage and lifts her leg while still leaning against my car, and I huff a laugh.
The way she wraps it is actually really good, secure…
“You’ve done this before.”
“Too many times.” She ties it off and puts her foot back on the ground, albeit tentatively. “Now, where’s ya car keys?”
I laugh. “No.” I pack away the first aid kit, expecting my no to be the end of it. Alas, Parker is Parker. “What the—”
“Finder’s keeper’s!” Dangling the keys she just stole from my back pocket, she giggles and jumps into the driver’s seat of my car.
Now, Icouldargue. Ishouldargue. But the threats to my life or extremities would be all too real. I pull out my cell as I climb into the car, side-eyeing Parker, who looks way too pleased with herself.
“You know, finder’s keeper’s isn’t actually the law…”
“Yeah, but if I listened to the law then the world would be super fuckin’ borin’.” The engine rumbles to life and she actually takes the time to strap herself in with the seatbelt, glaring at me when she sees me watching. “You’re a paramedic, you should know how dangerous car accidents can be.” She shrugs, her sweet and demonic little grin making her large eyes pop with glee.
“Do you even have a U.S. license?” Luckily, I drive an automatic, because I don’t think her knee could handle amanual. She begins driving in the direction I was headed as I send Grinder a message.
Me:Found Parker. She’s safe and in my car.
I want to ask him to come back but I’d never interfere in club business. I’ll just worry myself to death instead.
“Be honest, Spence. Do you care?” She side-eyes me right back, continuing before I can answer. “But yeah. I wouldn’t do you like that. We’re not fucking, but we’re like sister wives. The good kind that actually care about each other, not the backstabby cunty kind. And yes, I know, we haven’t spent enough time together to be besties, but I get good vibes from you. You actually give me a nice warm feeling in my stomach rather than making my skin crawl.”
“Um…thanks?” It’s at this point that I realize she isn’t turning around and heading home.
“You’re welcome.”
“Parker…?”
“Spencer…?” She gives me an amused grin before concentrating on the road again.
“Where are we going?”
Adjusting her position slightly in her seat, she clears her throat.
“Pretty sure it’s the same place you were going before your burst tire saved me from setting up camp and having rabbit stew. I heard the bikes ride past about twenty minutes before you, I just couldn’t get to the road in time to wave them down.”
“I texted Grinder and told him you’re safe. They’ll be on their way back any minute. We should turn around.” Knowing Parker is okay will ease Grinder’s mind exponentially which, in turn, eases mine.
How I became this linked to him so quickly isn’t beyond me, the years of banter and tentative friendship are easily making my feelings more intense.
“Orrr…” She drags the single word out as a whole bunch of motorcycles appear on the side of the road leading toward a long driveway surrounded by more trees.
“Or?” I’m staring straight ahead, knowing damn well what the ‘or’ is as she pulls the car to a stop.
“Orrr…we can help because our man’s currently having all the fun without us. I’m telling ya, he’s gonna be horny as fuck by the time we’re done. I’ll grab a wrench from your boot.”
“Trunk.”
“If we’re gonna do the word connecting game, foot or sock would go with boot, and leaves or tree would go with trunk…none of those have anything to do with a car…” She opens the driver’s side door and gets out before hopping around to the back, still mumbling to herself about trunks and boots, and all I can think about is what a bad idea this is.