Page 61 of Colton On Guard
Since now was not the time to ask her to put labels on their relationship, he let her off the hook. “Just have fun with it. You already know most of them anyway. I’ve got your back,Spence and Hetty do, too. And you’ve already talked to Lakin and Kansas and Eli. That leaves my brother Mitchell, if he even shows up.”
“And your parents and aunt and uncle,” she said. “I guess I’m a little worried about seeing them again, that’s all. Do you think they’ve heard the gossip about me staying with you?”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Since Aunt Abby is a reporter for the newspaper, I’m sure she has. And since she and Uncle Ryan are super close with my mom and dad, it’s likely they’ve heard the speculation.”
“I see.” She took another large gulp of her coffee.
“Do you mind if I ask why this bothers you so much?” he asked, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her answer.
When she lifted her gaze to his, the anguish he saw in her eyes made his chest ache.
“I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of you,” she said. “You’ve been kind enough to let me stay here until I’m ready to go home. If I’ve overstayed my welcome, I need you to say so. Because I’m still not comfortable with being alone in my parents’ house. I won’t until whoever has been breaking in is caught.”
Reaching across the table, he covered her hand with his. “No one will think that,” he said. “They know me. I asked you to stay. I’m enjoying having you here.”
A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “It’s the sex, isn’t it?”
“That, too,” he agreed, smiling just a little. “But it’s been awesome getting to know you. I like you, Genna.”
Some of the tension seemed to leave her. “I like you, too, Parker. I’m really looking forward to going camping with you.” She took a long drink of her coffee. “But first, we’ve got to get through the cookout. Speaking of that, I’m going to go make sure I look presentable.”
After she went back to her bedroom and closed the door, he decided he’d better do the same. A quick shower and a change of clothes later, he figured he was as ready as he was going to be.
When he came out to the living room, he found Genna already there, dressed and pacing.
“There you are!” she exclaimed, coming to a stop. “Are you ready to go?”
Surprised, he checked his fitness watch. “Sure, but we’d be way too early. It doesn’t even start for another hour.”
“True.” She resumed taking laps around the room. “I definitely don’t want to be the first ones there. But I don’t want to be late, either. That will draw too much attention.”
“Genna.”
Stopping a few feet away, she looked at him. “What?”
“Come here.” He held out his arms.
She walked right into them without hesitation. Wrapping her up and holding her close, he kissed the top of her head. “It’s only a cookout. Don’t make too much of it.”
Face pressed against his chest, she sighed. “I know. I’m not generally so high-strung. Usually, a social get-together like this would be something I’d enjoy. But with the feeling that someone is always watching me and might jump out from the shadows at any moment, it’s hard to feel even remotely normal. It feels like anxiety simmers just under the surface in everything I do.”
“I get it. If you’d rather we cancel, we don’t have to go.” He kissed her again, loving the way she clung to him, and aware in that moment he’d do anything to make her happy.
She shook her head. “No. A cookout will be fun. I’ll be fine. I want to see everyone.”
Though everything she said sounded like well-rehearsed reasons she’d used to convince herself, he simply nodded. “Up to you,” he said. “But I think if we get there a few minutes afterthe start time, that’ll be when everyone else is arriving. Except maybe Lakin. She’s been known to be fashionably late.”
This made Genna laugh. She moved away from him and went into the kitchen to grab a bottled water. “Thank you,” she told him when she returned. “I’m all packed for the camping trip, too.”
“Great. After the cookout, we’ll come back here, collect the dogs and our stuff, and head out.”
She nodded and then frowned thoughtfully. “Are you sure Revis is up for a hike?”
“He’ll love it,” he assured her. “I’ve taken him out a couple times and he truly enjoys it. We’re not doing anything too strenuous, so he’ll be fine.”
“Good.” Clearly relieved, she picked up her little JB, who’d come running over the moment Genna said Revis’s name. “I’ll be carrying her. I want to keep her close because I don’t want to risk her getting eaten by something.”
When the time came to leave for RTA, Genna appeared much calmer, even though she’d changed.