The Open Shot (The Hotshots Series Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Yellow

I stayed at Warrick's house until night Rory requested me to read her bed time story. It wasn't my first time I did this to my younger cousins before, but doing it to Rory feels different, it makes me want to be the one to read her bedtime stories every single night.

It also made me remember my parents, when I was Rory's age every single night mom and dad tucked me on the bed, they took turns reading me a bedtime story every night.

I escaped quietly to Rory's room when I knew she's already in a deep sleep.

I almost got a heart attack. I'm not expecting Warrick outside Rory's room to grab my chest. "You scared me!" I yell in a whisper.

He pulls me to him and he's hugging me "Sorry baby, is she asleep?"

I nod

Then we both went downstairs, sat on his couch. "Are you ok now?" he asks, worried about his tone. His hand caressed my arm. I rest my head on his chest.

Spending time with Rory and him made me totally forget about that news. They both made it better when I thought it would be one of my worst days.

"I am, baby spending time with you and Rory totally made me forget about it." I confess. "But I'm worried about the boy breaking Rory's crayon," I say.

"What about it, baby?"

I sighed. I don't know if I have the right to say it, maybe I'm just overthinking about it. "You won't get mad if I say it?" I'm hesitating to say it.

"I won't Heart just tell me what's on your mind." He assures.

"I don't know War, because normal kids won't just break, destroy other kids crayon or other things don't you think Rory was bullied by that boy? I'm just worried about Rory. Damaging other student's property is a form of physical bullying." I'm wishing now that I am wrong. That I'm just overthinking things.

I looked at him through my eyelashes. His face changes into a serious "Do you think so?"

I pressed my lips before I nod. To be honest I don't want to accuse the boy but I can't help it especially if it's Rory we're talking about.

"How many times did Rory come home with broken stuff or missing things?" I carefully ask.

He shrugs "I don't know Heart, Rory don't talk about it but one time she went home without her lunch box she said she lost it. Today is the first time I heard about this boy breaking her crayon" he says

"Sorry, maybe I'm wrong. I don't want to falsely accuse the boy, I'm just worried about Rory, Sorry War."

"No baby, thank you for looking out for Rory. I appreciate it so much, baby. I'll talk to Rory's teacher first thing in the morning tomorrow." and kisses me in my temple. "One of more reasons I love you Heart, you always look after Rory, you put her first. Thank you, Heart, not for just loving me but also for loving my daughter as your own. For accepting us as a package. I love you so much." he added.

Pulled away a bit to look at him straight to his eyes. And I can't help but to sob because I love them with my all. They are the reason I write again specially War always pushes me to, supports every idea I have, he encourages me to back on my feet.

I cupped his face "I love you and Rory with my all, War." I told him

He stared at me, "Sometimes I don't believe you were true, you're too good for us" then his lips pressed into mine.