Page 26

26

Tucker

M iller: Axel and I need to run an errand. If you are able, can you swing by the house and stay with Spencer so she isn’t alone?

Tucker: Of course. Be there soon.

I had been gone for barely three hours when the text came in, and within thirty minutes, I was letting myself in the front door and crawling into bed next to my queen. Her hair was damp, and she smelt freshly showered as she curled into me.

I’ve barely dozed off when I hear the front door open. A soft knock taps on the door, and Axel’s head peeks around. They all worked the night shift, and it’s barely lunchtime. I know they have to be exhausted.

He gives me a weary smile and tilts his head toward Spencer’s sleeping form. “We need her out here. Can you wake her?”

“What’s going on? Is everyone okay?” I can’t imagine what’s happened in the few hours since I left this morning.

“They will be. Katy…needs Spencer.” He gives me a half smile and closes the door.

Brushing a gentle finger across Spencer’s cheek, I kiss her forehead and whisper, “Little Miss, I need you to wake up.” Her body sighs, and I have a feeling she heard the entire exchange between Axel and me.

“I’m not going to get any sleep today, am I?” I’m not sure what she’s talking about, but it only adds to the guilt I was already feeling for having to wake her so soon.

“Axel said Katy needs you.”

“Katy?” Maybe she wasn’t awake. Spencer rolls and looks at the time, then her bedroom door. “Isn’t she in school?”

“I have no idea. Axel just poked his head in and said to wake you and that Katy needs you.”

“Wait. Why are you here and not them? Why isn’t Katy in school? What’s going on?” She’s coming apart with all the unknown. I pull her into a bear hug and relay the information I know.

“Miller texted me and said he had an errand to run with Axel. They asked me to come stay with you so you weren’t alone. That’s everything I know. Take a few breaths for me, and then we can go out there together and see what’s going on.” Her chest expands against mine, and I loosen my grip and inhale with her. When she exhales, I do. We repeat the breathing two more times before she relaxes in my arms.

“Okay. I’m ready.”

“Good Girl.” I kiss the top of her head, and we climb out, getting ourselves appropriately dressed before we see what’s waiting for us on the other side of the door.

I link my hand with hers before we enter the living room, and Miller is sitting on the couch with an inconsolable Katy. He looks weary at his inability to console her.

Spencer releases my hand and drops to the floor in front of Katy. I lock eyes with Miller, trying to read anything about the current situation, but there’s nothing. His gaze is vacant.

Spencer takes Katy’s hand, and she flings herself into her arms. I hear muffled “I’m sorrys” through her tears, but I still don’t see a reason for all her emotions.

“Katy.” Spencer pulls her away by the shoulders and dips her head down to try and catch Katy’s attention.

“I fucked up. I’m so sorry. I don’t want to go back. Please don’t send me back to her. I l-love it here. You’re all so incredible to m-me. Shit. I’m sorry. This is all so messed up. P-please don’t hate me.” Her shoulders shake from the force of her sobs, and Spencer pulls her back into a hug.

Spencer’s eyes dart between Miller and Axel, and she mouths, “What’s going on?” The tension in the room is thick. Katy’s crying becomes so intense she’s hiccuping. Axel crouches down next to them and rubs her back.

“Tell Spencer. Don’t be afraid, Katy girl.”

After a few deep breaths and sniffles, Katy pulls back. She’s still staring at the floor when her tiny voice whispers to Axel. “Show her.” Axel looks at Miller, who nods in agreement. He bends over and takes something off the side table next to the couch.

Axel doesn’t try to hide the pregnancy test as he hands it to Spencer. She takes it, and I instantly see the wall come up. Her mask is on. Why?

“I need a moment.” Spencer places the test on the table and untangles herself from Katy’s grip. Despite the pleas and apologies Katy is crying to get Spencer to stay, she isn’t here. Spencer has mentally checked out. When the bedroom door shuts, Katy collapses. Miller scoops her back into his arms on the couch and attempts to console her.

“What the hell just happened, Axel?” I try to keep my voice low so the conversation stays between him and me.

“Katy is pregnant.”

“I figured that much out. Why did Spencer just close off and disappear?” He sighs and the look he gives me is thick with sadness.

“Spencer deals with her emotions differently than others. She said she needed a moment so we’re giving her a moment.”

“Fine. I’ll go talk to her myself.” I can’t believe they let her walk off without going after her.

Axel grips my forearm with such force that I wince. “I suggest you release me, Axel.”

“And I suggest you walk in there with the gentlest of fucking kid gloves, and don’t force her to say anything she doesn’t want to. You’re here because she feels a connection with you, but we’ve known her for years. Don’t fuck things up.”

I grab the wrist holding my forearm, and look Axel square in the eyes. “I respect you for that warning, but as I said before, shoot me dead if I ever hurt her. And that means mentally as well as physically.” He releases my arm, and I release his wrist.

When I approach Spencer’s door, I knock lightly and walk in. I don’t want to give her the opportunity to reject me. She’s sitting on her floor with Gage at her side, emptying her magazine bullet by bullet and replacing them. Her guns are her safe place.

“May I approach you, Little Miss?” Entering the room is one thing, but invading her space when she has a gun and a very protective dog is another.

She pats Gage’s head and whispers a command in his ear. He rises, moves to the corner of the room, and lies in his dog bed. I take that as an answer to my question and join her on the floor.

“You got another one of those for me?” She reaches into her nightstand drawer and pulls out an identical Glock to the one in her hand. We empty and refill the magazines a few times before she pauses and looks at me.

“Have they told you anything about my diagnosis?”

“No ma’am, and even if they tried, I wouldn’t have allowed them to continue. Your past is your story to share, and I’m ready to listen whenever you’re ready.” She slumps back against the mattress and tells me her past about a brave young girl and her lifelong struggles. How she’s adapted and overcome them to become the woman I’m more than proud to call mine now.

“Does Katy know your story?”

“Some, not all, and I’m sure she’s out there thinking the worst of me right now because I abandoned her, but…I needed backup that none of you could understand right now.”

“Lincoln?” He’s the only one not here of the four of us.

“No.” She sits up and begins reassembling her gun. “My best friend, Justin. Katy has a special place in his heart, and I need him to help us navigate this.”

I’ve heard of Justin, but we haven’t met. I know he’s her usual partner, and Miller is a firefighter.

“Is he on his way?” She nods and checks her watch.

“Any minute.” She must have gotten a notification because the front door opens, and I hear Katy gasp and screech Justin’s name.

Spencer stands next to me and offers her hand to help me up. I chuckle and take it but stand on my own. I pull her into me as the sound of commotion starts in the living room.