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Getting to my feet, I turn, but before I can take anything else in, the truck outside finally veers off, leaving me indarkness.
I glance at where Dolly lies motionless in bed, her chest rising and falling softly as she finds rest.
My mind spins out of control. There are photos of me everywhere. But also… photos of a life Dolly clearly wants.
“It’s because I love you,” she murmurs from the bed, causing my focus to snap from the dark room to where she is on the bed. “I’m loyal to you because I love you,” she says simply before slipping into a boozy slumber.
I close Dolly’s door behind me, loosening my tie as I quietly make my way to her front door. I take Juniper’s keys off one of the hooks by the door, and lock up on my way out, assuming Ivy’s got a way back in.
Another hour later, I’m finally getting Bear in his pajamas and into bed. With my tux still on, I fall across my bed, waiting for that terrible feeling to sink in. Waiting for the realization to hit me.
But it doesn’t come.
Because as wrong as it may be, the idea that Dolly has been pining after me? Looking at my photos and dreaming of being my girl?
I know I shouldn’t.
But goddamn it,I love that.
twenty-three
HE GOES. AND I FOLLOW.
Dolly
“You ready?” Ivy asks. I know she isn’t yelling, or even talking loud. But still, I bring my hands to my temples and grab my head. “Here,” she says, lowering her voice as she slides me a mug of coffee. “This will help.”
“It tastes like shit,” I groan, bringing the mug to my lips. I may complain, but if she says it will help, I’ll do it. I take a sip. “Gross.”
“Oh, so it’s fine when it’s cold and filled with Hudson’s backwash, but when it’s freshly ground Colombian in a mug it’s gross?” She smirks.
I nod. “Exactly.”
Shaking her head, she continues sliding work into her leather portfolio, zipping it when she’s done. Thismorning we’re heading to Ink Time to set up Ivy’s station, and when I agreed to this, I definitely didn’t think I’d be hungover.
“Doesn’t the fact that Hudson brought you home and tucked you in at least make you feel a little better?” Juniper asks as she loads jars of mulberry jam into a corrugated box.
I sit up straight, causing pain to jolt up my neck, spearing through my brain. “What?” Shock echoes through my core, leaving me trembling on the barstool, my hands immediately clammy. “Hewhat?”
Juniper stops, a jar of jam in her hand as her eyes come to mine. “Yeah,” she replies, “he brought you in and put you to bed. I saw it on the security feed this morning.”
My lips tremble. “Did… did he turn the lights on?”
Ivy’s and Juniper’s attention snaps to me, as they realize exactly why I’m freaking out at the exact same moment.
“Oh shit,” Ivy breathes.
“Oh no,” Juniper comments.
“Maybe he didn’t turn on the light because it was so late,” I say, hoping to God he didn’t see. I don’t care that he knows me, that he sees where my heart and mind have been for years. But I need to tell him first. I need to prime him. Else… it’s shocking.
“Oh god,” I breathe, letting my forehead fall into my hands. “I was so close. I could feel him coming to me,” I tell them.
“Don’t freak out yet, okay? Let’s just… see how he is this morning,” Juniper says, adding the last jar to the box. The outside of the box is labeled BLUEBELL POLICE DEPARTMENT. Amidst my chaos, the label grabs my attention.
“You’re taking jam to the police department?” I ask. I’vebeen so self-involved lately, I didn’t realize Juniper had been filling large orders.
“Hmm,” she agrees. “I am. They work so hard. They deserve something sweet.”
