Pulling up in front of the school, I gave a chin lift to some of the parents I knew who were already in the parent pickup line. Reid arrived a few minutes later. Turning off his motorcycle, he took off his helmet and shook his head as his gaze drifted over the scratches on the side of my bike.
“What the fuck happened?”
I shrugged and told him the same story I’d given my dad when he’d asked that exact question earlier. “There was this huge-ass elk in the road last night. Didn’t see it until I was right up on it because of the fog. Figured if I hit it, one of us wouldn’t walk away from the collision, and I wasn’t too confident it would be me. Ended up swerving and wiped out.”
“Fuck, man,” Reid muttered. “You okay?”
“Just a little road rash and a few sore muscles. I’ll live. Don’t tell my mom, though. I don’t want to worry her.”
My cousin nodded, his blue eyes, a Reid family trademark, glowing with understanding. Reid’s last name should have been Reid, but his mom had kept his birth a secret from his dad for the first two years of his life. When they got married, his dad hadn’t wanted to saddle him with the name Reid Reid, so they hadn’t changed it from Reid Barker. And since their construction company was Barker & Reid Construction and he was going to inherit part of it regardless, there was no reason to worry about it.
“Don’t worry, cuz. I got your back.”
The bell rang, announcing the end of the school day. Slowly, kids started trickling out of the school and got into their parents’ vehicles. When Nova walked out, her backpack tossed over one shoulder, she gave me a tight smile and climbed on my bike behind me.
Reid and I shared a look before turning our attention to my little cousin. I shifted so I could look at her. Every time I set eyes on Nova, my heart gave a little squeeze. She was a tiny little replica of my mom. Even her attitude was just like Raven Hannigan Reid’s at times.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded. “Someone being mean to you? Do I need to kick some little asses?”
She rolled her green eyes. “No, dummy.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Reid asked, his tone less aggressive than my own—slightly. “You’re obviously upset about something.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Ryan’s going to kill Garret.”
I glanced at Reid, and then we both burst out laughing. “Let him,” I told her. “That fucking asshole needs a good ass-beating.”
“Just out of curiosity, what did your idiot brother do this time?” Reid inquired, his brows lifted. “Uncle Jet mentioned Ryan practically choking Garret out when he got here last week. All I’m saying about that is, I wouldn’t have had as much restraint. I wanted to put my boot up that little fucker’s ass too. He should have been there to protect you.”
She mumbled something I didn’t catch, and I reached out, tugging on her blond ponytail. “Speak up.”
She slapped my hand away. “He’s been baiting Ramirez,” she repeated. “On social media. Ramirez’s stepdaughter, or whatever the hell she is, has a huge following on her Instagram, and Garret has been taunting him on her page.”
“Does he want to get you killed?” I growled. Turning, I started my bike. There were no parents in line any longer, so I knew Reid could handle the rest of our shift on his own. “You don’t have to worry about Ryan killing the little fucker, Nova. Because I’m going to put a bullet in him.”
“No!” she cried, grabbing hold of my arm and tugging on it until I turned my head to look at her over my shoulder. “Please, Max. He doesn’t even understand the kind of trouble he’s stirring up. Let me—”
“What?” I snapped. “Let you coddle him? One day, you’re going to realize that you can’t protect your brother forever, sweetheart. He has to take responsibility for his own actions eventually. And I’d rather he not learn that lesson because he got you killed.”
Nova exhaled heavily and glanced off into the distance for a moment before turning her gaze back to mine. “I know. But I can’t help wanting to protect him.”
“Ah, Nova. It should be the other way around. He should be the one protecting you, honey. You’re the precious one. But all he cares about is himself.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to allow a single one to spill over her lashes. “I know, but I keep hoping he will change.” Swallowing hard, she put her hands at my waist. “Can we please just go?” She glanced at Reid then back to me. I’d texted her earlier to ask if she would help me shop for Delaney. She knew she was the only person I’d told about my little treasure. I could trust Nova to keep any secret I asked her to. Like my mom, she was loyal to a fault. “I need to pick up a few things at the store. Do you mind taking me shopping?”
“You two go on,” Reid urged. “I got this covered. It’s only going to be a few more minutes before the teachers leave anyway.”
I gave him a nod in thanks, and Nova tightened her hold. With her backpack slung over both shoulders now and my extra helmet on her head, she was as secure as she could get. Her dad had been letting her ride on the back of his own bike since she was three, so it was as normal to her as breathing.
There weren’t many places to shop for nice clothes in Creswell Springs. River and Mila were opening their own store to cater to a woman’s every need, Womanland, but it wouldn’t be open for a few more weeks. I didn’t want to waste time driving the hour to the nearest mall, even though I knew I could get Delaney better clothes there.
Promising myself I would take her on a shopping spree soon, I let Nova loose in the one little boutique. She knew women’s clothes better than I did, so I was going to trust her judgment on anything she chose for my little treasure.
Two hours later, with several bags of clothes, shoes, and other essentials, we picked up dinner at Aggie’s and then went back to my place.
As soon as I opened the door to my apartment, I felt Delaney’s presence, and the pressure in my chest eased somewhat. When I spotted her curled up on the couch with a blanket tucked around her as she read one of the books Nova had left the last time she’d visited me, the pressure all but disappeared.
Dropping the bags of clothes on the floor, I scooped Delaney up and pressed my forehead to hers. She practically purred as she cuddled against me. We stayed just like that for several long moments before Nova cleared her throat, reminding me she was there.
I lifted my head, noting that she was holding the two takeout bags while she skimmed her eyes over the girl in my arms. Her lips tilted up in a smile as she used her foot to close the front door and walked over to us. Delaney’s head snapped around, her eyes taking in my little cousin curiously as her cheeks glowed a soft pink with shyness.
Setting the bags on the coffee table, Nova introduced herself. “Hi, Delaney,” she signed. Nova was a genius when it came to learning new languages. She was fluent in Italian, Russian, and Spanish. American Sign Language, Mom had been teaching her from birth, just as she had Lexa and me. “I’m Nova.”
My girl squirmed until I set her on her feet, and she held out her hand. Nova smiled as she shook it.
“You’re as beautiful as Max said you would be.” Delaney blushed and melted against me once more. “Honestly, I thought he was exaggerating, but for once, he spoke the complete truth.”