54. ISO Getaway Driver

FIFTY-FOUR

Iwoke up to a phone call from Lottie and I answered immediately.

"Hey, everything okay?" My phone said it was only seven. She was a "text, don't call" type of person, even with me, so I was a little concerned.

"Hey, baby sis. I know you're a couple hours behind us but you're going to want to get your ass out of bed. Parker there?" She never called me "baby sis" unless she was making fun of me. The soft tone to her voice meant something bad had happened.

I switched to speaker phone and adjusted the phone so it was between us. "He's right here."

Parker sat up and rubbed his tired eyes. His voice was gruff with sleep. "Morning Lottie."

"Cute. Glad you guys are all cozy and happy because shit is hitting the fan."

"What do you mean?" Parker was suddenly fully awake and took the phone from my hand.

"Well, I won't take personal offense to being left in the dark about your writing career, sis, but apparently Parker's team owner is pretty pissed about your new book deal that's rumored to be based on his star pitcher. Someone put two and two together from your little signing yesterday, and it's blowing up all over social media. Not the best idea, Delilah."

"I didn't have a choice. My publisher arranged it since I was in town, and I didn't think I could say no."

"I get it, you're just going to have to face the music now. Oh, you might want to know that Dean has taken to social media saying he wants to sue you."

"I didn't even write a book about him. I thought he'd like it too much."

"Well then he's an idiot, but he's an idiot that has a lot of attention on him while he's talking shit about you two. Parker, did you have a run in with him?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "Because he said you're aggressive and harassed him at his place of work. I'm going to need all the details so we can deal with this."

"We?"

"Yeah." She paused. "I thought you might need a lawyer."

Lottie and I were surface level close, but I'd always respected her more than anything. She wasn't soft and sweet. She was tough love and gave a blunt pep talk. I still appreciated it all the same.

"Okay, thanks Lottie," Parker spoke up for me. "We're coming home today anyway. Can you pick us up from the airport this afternoon?"

"Yeah, just text me your flight details and maybe check the internet to know how prepared you need to be. It's pretty bad." My eyes widened. It took a lot to rile Lottie up and she sounded… worried.

"I'll take care of it," Parker replied decidedly. "We'll see you later."

No sooner did we hang up than Lily started crying loudly through the monitor.

"I'll get her," we said in unison.

"I can do it." I threw on one of Parker's shirts and went to Lily"s room. She was red-faced and upset.

"I know how you feel, baby girl. Me too, me too," I soothed. Sitting down in the rocking chair, I fed her and contemplated every decision I'd made up until this point.

Writing was me, and the new life I'd made for Lily and I was only possible because of it. I knew Parker had money, but I'd never fully rely on a man financially, no matter how in love I was.

Parker loved his career just as much, and I would understand if he wasn't sure how to feel about this.

When Lily and I were both dressed and halfway packed, there was a knock at the door. I'd usually just let Parker handle it, but I wanted to know what was going on.

I walked into the kitchen right as our friends came through the door in a crowd. Brett and Peter each had a suitcase that they rolled in.

Parker saw my surprise. "I told them not to come over."

"Good thing you're not the boss of me." Jo and Ana made their way to me and wrapped Lily and I up in a hug.

Stassie didn't like her mom lipping off to her favorite uncle. "Uh, P the boss." Her hand was on her hip as she talked back and it was utterly adorable.

"Thanks, Stass." Parker high fived her.

"You guys okay?" Jo asked quietly.

"I don't really know much, other than that my sister, who's a lawyer, called saying we might need her help."

Peter was straight with me. "Well basically half the world is trying to buy out the rights to your book, and the owner of the Tempests said he will drop Parker if you publish it. Apparently he doesn't want to know how Parker is in the sack."

I didn't think it was possible for my face to get any redder than it was without my head exploding. I was not getting used to people knowing what I wrote.

"I wasn't telling her that part," Parker gritted out through his teeth.

Brett held up bags of takeout. "We brought food and our charming selves for moral support."

"And luggage because…?" Parker was annoyed when he should have been grateful.

"We usually spend Christmas with you here. And you have plenty of room in that mansion you bought in Roe." Peter kicked back on the couch, not giving a shit that Parker didn't want them here.

"And you probably shouldn't fly alone."

"I don't need help protecting my family. We'll be okay."

Jo wasn't having it. "You're traveling with a baby, tons of luggage, and your flight got leaked. They're going with you because you're our family. Get over it."

"I've never been to Iowa before." Peter was chipper as hell this morning and by the look on Parker's face, it was going to drive him up the wall.

Parker crossed his arms in defeat and leaned back against the counter. "Does she always get what she wants?" he asked Noah.

Stass apparently thought he was addressing her. "Yeah, mom got the pants."

"Wears the pants," Peter corrected. "I'm still working on the sayings with her."

Noah wasn't impressed. "To tell her that I don"t wear the pants in our family? Really?"

"Jeez, I mean I'm not sure lying to your kids is a good thing." Peter raised his eyebrows. "What do I know though?"

I didn"t think my departure would be so emotional, given how I felt when I arrived in Seattle. Nonetheless, Stassie cried, Jo cried ,and I think Peter would have if he wasn't flying back with us. Chelsea even came over with a few things I needed for Lil on the plane. I came to Seattle knowing no one other than Parker and left having made new friends who didn't make me question if they genuinely liked me or not. My life was a mess, but the people I was leaving behind were a bright spot in the looming darkness.

The airport was absolute madness. We took Peter's massive Range Rover with blacked out windows.

The guys were able to get us in a private lounge area until it was time to board, and the flight attendant agreed to let us board last and moved our seats to the very front. It was a safety precaution at that point.

We waited in the lounge while Peter and Brett went and got us lunch. Peter came back with a stack of books and with a closer look, I saw that they were mine.

"Peter, really?"

"What? I obviously have some catching up to do. I almost had to fight some old lady for this one." He held up my latest release. "She didn't even know who I was."

Brett cackled. "You did not pull that card."

"You're damn right I did. It was the last one."

I covered my face with a hand. "Peter, I have plenty of copies at home."

"I don't want your copies. I want my own."

Brett reached over. "Lemme see this one." Peter tried to swat his hand away, but he snatched it just in time. "Hmm, this one sounds interesting."

I yelped. "That one's from a different series. Not anything based on real life."

Parker laughed. "I'd hope so. Good to know you didn't fuck your professor in college."

I grimaced. "Nah, they were all old as hell."

"I always wondered what in-person college would have been like. Not even any hot TAs?"

"I haven't had anyone attractive help me with my homework since high school." The heat that flashed between Parker and me was enough to make me wish we were alone.

"Flirty today, Dellie?" The nickname sounded scandalous rolling off his lips in such a public setting.

"I don't know, Parker. I'm seeing plenty of role-play opportunities. Are you taking notes?" Peter was flipping through a book.

Parker sent a wink in my direction. "Always."

I glanced around wondering if I'd feel less on the spot if I crawled under a chair and hid.

There weren't any nonstop flights to Iowa because, well, it was Iowa, so we hustled to get out of view and avoided anyone that said our names. It might have been a mistake to fly into the closest city to Roe that had an airport, but Parker booked our flights two weeks ago.

Parker and Brett flanked my sides, and Peter took the back on the way out to try and find Lottie's car. Parker had told me what it'd been like when he came home. I was somewhat prepared, but I hadn't expected there to be more than 50 people crowding around the exit waiting for us. The guys stayed close as Parker used his body to break through. Lottie was parked just a few feet away. She got out to help us, but Parker told her to get back in and for me to do the same while they loaded the bags.

I sat in the very back row of Lottie's minivan and secured Lily's car seat.

"Holy fucking shit!" My sister had the same way with words that I did, well, verbally at least. "This is crazy."

"It was worse in Seattle," Peter said, climbing into the front seat next to her while the other two filled in the middle row.

"We can talk war stories when we get home. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to drive as fast as you're willing. I'll pay the ticket if you get one." Parker's tone was hard enough to make me think about scolding him, but Lottie could handle him.

"You don't have to tell me twice."

Peter grabbed the "oh shit" handle and watched my sister with an impressed and amused expression as we ditched the two cars that were following us down the interstate.

"Del, you didn't tell me your sister was still "hot." His "whisper" was loud enough for the whole car to hear, and we just rolled our eyes.

"Don't get too close, she might bite." I knew Peter's flirting was wasted on Lottie.

She lifted her left hand. "Still married."

Peter wasn't deterred. "You let me know if that changes."