“We never talk.”
“Yeah, well we should,” I tease, dragging out my confession.
His voice softens as he tries extracting the truth from me once more. “Tell me what’s wrong, Anniston.”
I sigh, this is it. Theo is going to hit the motherfucking fan. “Oh, nothing bad. Just some crazy held me at knifepoint, threatened me, and then slit my tire, which I have no idea how to change, by the way. So, I’m walking home from the farmers market and could use a familiar voice to keep me company.”
“Where’s Cade?” he questions on a growl.
“He’s at the house dealing with a problem.”
“Why didn’t you call one of the others?”
“They’re busy, too. Can I not talk to you?” I snap, and regret it immediately. I’m being petty and snapping at Thor when I really should be snapping at myself. I can’t even change my own damn tire.
“I mean, couldn’t one of them come to pick you up,” he tries again, this time with a lot less attitude.
“I tried Cade, he didn’t answer.”
Thor makes a sound deep in his throat that sounds much like disbelief. “Theo is going to go ballistic.”
“And you’re not going to tell him. Promise?” He goes to argue and I cut him off. “Promise,” I demand, my voice catching. “He doesn’t need to worry about this right now during the All-Star voting.”
Thor sighs. “Okay, but if he finds out on his own, I’ll throw you under the bus in a heartbeat.”
“Deal,” I compromise, a smile forming on my face for the first time since Lou grabbed me.
“Let me try and call Cade again?” he asks softly.
“No, I’m almost home. Just keep talking to me?”
His quick intake of breath tells me I’ve shocked him with this question.
“Okay,” he agrees.
The rest of the walk home, I’m entertained by Thor’s dry humor. Except for the occasional f-bomb and threats about when Theo finds out about this, the conversation is rather delightful.
Until…
Tires spin gravel into the air, dust flying in my nose and mouth. I’m coughing, shielding my face from the worst dust tornado ever experienced in Georgia, when I hear, “You have two seconds to get your ass in this fucking truck before I lose the last bit of self-control I have.”
Cade is hanging out the driver’s window, his face blazing with white-hot fury. Brows pinched, hands gripping the steering wheel like he could rip it off the column without a second thought.
Fucking Thor. “You told.” My accusation hangs in the air, daring him to deny it.
After a brief pause, he admits, “I had to. I just want you safe.”
I should’ve known. Thor may talk smack and cut up with me but he’ll always be a protector first and foremost. “Thanks, Thor. I really appreciate it. Now I have to calm Cade down.” My thanks is sincere but the rest of it…yeah, that’s aggravation and exhaustion speaking.
“Cade is the least of your worries.”
Right, if he told Cade, he’ll most definitely tell Theo.
“I take it back, we should never talk. In fact, I hope Theo gives you hell tonight.” I’m only half joking. I really do hope Theo drives him fucking crazy. That sweet asshole told on me before I could gently ease Cade into the story. Ugh.
Thor laughs softly into the phone, “I’m sure he will. Be safe, Anniston.”
“Anniston!” Cade is out of the truck, barreling toward me.
