Chapter Forty-Three
Later that afternoon, we stopped to see Mom and Dad. Talking with them, especially Mom, further helped the healing process. She baked cinnamon rolls and just held me. I loved my mom. Tomorrow she was coming over to spend some more time with me.
Back at Shaw Tower, we knocked on Sawyer and Kurt’s door. I had been a terrible friend. Absolutely terrible. Throughout the week, both had attempted to talk to me, but I had refused to let them in. The wounds were still fresh, but Garrick helped me start down the path of recovery.
Together, we would always be stronger. In all my pain, I’d forgotten how much this affected Garrick. I hadn’t been there for him. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
The door opened, and Kurt stood there with a stunned expression on his face. He quickly snapped out of it and picked me up in a hug. “You are a sight for sore eyes. I was worried about you.”
“I know.” I hugged him back with all my might. “Sorry I had to check out. It was hard.”
He kept holding me. “As long as you find your way back, that’s all that matters. I will always be here.”
Tears stung my eyes for the millionth time today as he set me down. “I know. And I’m always here for you. No matter what.”
“I know.”
Sawyer called from the other room. “Who’s there?”
“My best friend.” Kurt gave me a wink. Oh no, here we go again. Things must have been back to the aggravate each other stage.
Sawyer appeared, apparently fresh from the shower, her eyes rounding in excitement. “Oh my gosh! I’ve missed you!” She threw her arms out and crushed me in a hug. “I’ve missed you so much. Don’t ever do that again. I’ve been so scared.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Knoah, don’t be sorry. We’ve just been worried. But you’re good?”
I gave a watery smile. If I’d let Garrick and my friends in sooner, they would’ve helped. “I’m better. Healing.”
“Girls’ night soon. Promise me.”
“Definitely.”
Ushering us inside, Sawyer asked, “Can I get my best friend anything to drink?”
Kurt coughed and said, “I’ve known her longer.”
“Chicks before dicks.” Then under a cough, she added, “Rock star wannabe.”
Like a teenage girl, Kurt put his thumbs together to make a W and whispered, “Whatever!”
We busted out laughing. For a second they looked at each other. I took a step back into Garrick’s chest, feeling like an intruder in their private moment. Then I realized Sawyer wore a T-shirt that read Cole Davis is a Sex God. Cole Davis was Kurt’s rival. They’d had a few disagreements over the years.
Whatever truce had been called around the LA trip was obviously beyond broken. When Kurt noticed the shirt, he took a step back.
“Where did you get that shirt?” I asked.
Beaming, Sawyer said, “I had it made. It’s the word on the street.”
Oh man.
Kurt’s eyes flashed irritation. “He’s a cocksucker.”
With her hand on her hip, Sawyer gave him a sassy smile. “Jealous of his cock size? I didn’t realize you swung that way.”
I took a step back. Garrick put his free hand on my waist and gave a little squeeze. Yeah, he thought the same thing I did. These two are crazy for each other. The room was about to explode with sexual tension. Not wanting to hear about Kurt’s cock size, I blurted out, “I have cookies. I made cookies. Lots and lots of cookies.”
On cue, Garrick handed me the container.
“Are these the mint chocolate chip ones?”
“They are. I figured I might have to bribe my way back in.”
Taking the container with him, Kurt walked to the kitchen and already had two in his mouth before he got there. “I’m not sure if I forgive you yet. I may need a batch delivered every day.”
“I’ll see what I can work out.” The wonderful thing about friends was they were by your side through thick and thin.
With the lid off the container, the sweet smell of mint and chocolate filled the air. I had to admit, the cookies were addictive. Sawyer attempted to grab one and he swatted her hand. “Stay away. These are mine.”
“Are you serious?” Sawyer’s mouth dropped open.
Yes, things had definitely escalated between them. “I am.” Then Kurt picked up his phone. “Hey. I need a safe delivered to my place this evening. Yeah? Perfect.”
“Stop being a selfish prick.”
I raised my eyes to Garrick’s, and he nodded. It was time to go. Let these two sexually combust with each other. With how their bodies were angled toward each other, it was only a matter of time before clothes were shed. Some things were best left unseen.
Taking another bite, Kurt moaned. “I think you have me confused with Cole Davis.”
Sawyer took a step forward, and I stepped in. “We’re going to head out. There’re more cookies in our apartment if you want some, Sawyer. Play nice and don’t kill each other.”
Then Kurt muttered around another cookie, “She started it.”
Sawyer let out an exasperated huff. “I’m going to be the mature one and not respond to that. Anyway, what are you doing tonight?”
“We’re going to make some rounds. We saw Mom and Dad this afternoon. Now we’re going to see Evelyn and Ricardo. And stop by Suzette and Henry’s on the way back.”
“Maybe stop by Mom and Dad’s. It depends on how tired Knoah is,” Garrick amended.
Sawyer slapped Garrick’s shoulder. “Look at you going all alpha male on her. It’s pretty cute.”
I giggled, and Garrick shook his head. As we were about to say good-bye, the clock struck four and sang “Jingle Bells.” Oh my word, it had to be the most annoying version of that song with drums and bells and—was that a flute?
I looked around the apartment. The Christmas decorations were worse than they ever had been. Normally, they were everywhere but done so in a tasteful manner. This was just horrendous. It was as if Sawyer had hit every thrift store in Orlando. “Is that clock new? I don’t remember it.”
“Yes, I got it on sale at Goodwill. Such a steal. I think I paid a dollar.” Then she pointed to a Santa in Bermuda shorts. As if on cue, he shook his hips while singing an equally wretched version of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Kurt rolled his eyes. “That’s new, too. She found that one in the paper. It was free. Lucky us.”
“Oh my gosh! Wow! Those are…umm…bargains.”
Like she was completely in love with the Santa, she admired him. “I know. I’m one lucky girl another bastard didn’t claim this jolly man.” Sawyer held up her hands dramatically and pointed to another life-size snowman with one eye and a missing nose. He played “Frosty the Snowman” in a Chinese accent.
This was far worse than I imagined. “Are those on timers?” I asked.
“Yes, every hour and half hour we get to hear their glorious voices. Christmas is the season to be jolly!”
Kurt grabbed a beer from the fridge and cracked it open. “I trashed some of them, and then they multiplied.” He held up the beer. “Deck the fucking halls, man.”
Victory was Sawyer’s, and she worked to contain her smile.
It was hard to keep a straight face. “Do you guys need a mediator?”
Sawyer walked over to Kurt and pinched his cheeks. “Nah, we’re good. We are such good friends.”
Oh…she was beyond pissed. It was definitely time to go. “I think we’re going to go to Evelyn and Ricardo’s now.”
We said our good-byes and left. In the elevator, I mused, “They are going to kill each other.”
“Kurt’s going to have to admit he has feelings for Sawyer.”
“Why do you think it’s Kurt? And not Sawyer?”
“Call it a hunch.”
I cocked my head. “Did he say anything to you?”
“No, but I recognize the signs.”
“You never pulled away from me.”
As the elevator began to open up, Garrick pushed the button to keep the doors closed for a second. “No, I didn’t. But we’re different people. I was never adverse to love. I simply hadn’t found someone worth giving up my priorities for…until you.”
I reached up on my tiptoes to brush my lips against his. “I’m glad we followed our hearts instead of our heads—at least for the most part.”
“Me, too. I meant everything I said this afternoon about you being it for me.”
“Always.”
Garrick released the button and the door opened. Joe stood at the car door. I knew he had come back to work this week since I’d heard him in the apartment. “It’s good to see you, Joe.”
“You, too, Mrs. Shaw.” Before we got in, he held out his hand. “This may not be appropriate, but I wanted to thank you.”
“For?”
He swallowed hard, showing the most emotion I’d ever seen from him. “What you did for my son. I know he didn’t deserve it, but I’ll never forget it. He thanks you as well and asked me to tell you.”
One of the conditions to release Arnold had been he had to leave the security industry altogether and never have any contact with us again. However, Garrick would still monitor his activities.
“How’s Haley and the…umm…the baby?”
“They’re great. Thanks to you.”
“There’s been enough loss through this.”
“Yes, there has.”
It still hurt a little bit to think of all the people able to have children and not me. Someday. I kept telling myself that there was still a possibility to carry my own child. And if not…maybe adoption. Sometimes dreams did come true in different ways than anticipated, and I needed to accept that. I had so much to be thankful for as it was.