“I don’t think he likes having to make decisions,” I said quietly as I read through the texts.
Kip grunted in agreement. “Caught that, too? At first, I thought he might be trying to brush me off, but after I saw how he was at the shop, I think he’s got a Little side hiding just under the surface.”
“I don’t think he’ll be one to regress, but yeah. He’s definitely a Little. He wants someone to take care of him and take the burden of the world off his shoulders.” I frowned, my chest tightening. “What the fuck has he been through, Kip?” Because he’d definitely been through something, and whatever it was, it was traumatic. No one looked that haunted otherwise.
“I don’t know,tsuma,” Kip quietly responded. “But whatever it is, we’ll find out. And we’ll help him, okay? I promise.”
I just swallowed thickly and nodded, my heart aching as I remembered those haunted eyes and how fuckingtiredhe’d looked.
We’re going to help you, bub, I thought as I locked Kip’s phone and handed it back to him.Just give us time.
Chapter Five
Corvus
I groaned in dismay at the sound of my phone vibrating, waking me from a peaceful nap. Sleep had been getting less and less frequent for me, and I hadn’t told my therapist yet because she’d just want to put me on medications, and I didn’t fucking want medicine. I just wanted torestand not constantly relive the horrifying day I’d nearly lost Hudson.
But that was too much to ask, I guessed, and now, when Ifinallygot to get some rest without flashbacks, I was being woken up by my fucking phone.
Lucky me.
I slapped around my hand until I found the offending device then grabbed it off the nightstand and brought it closer to my face, squinting against the light. I didn’t recognize the number, but it was local. Remembering I had a car in the shop, I swiped my thumb across my screen and lifted the phone to my ear, shutting my eyes again.
“’Lo?” I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.
“You’re still sleeping this time of day, bub?”
My heart lurched into my throat. I’d only spoken to her once, but I’d know that voiceanywhere. Had daydreamed about her and Kip quite a few times the past couple of days since Kip had texted me to ask me out on a date. On a date with himand his beautiful-as-fuck wife.
Seriously, two peoplethathot being together was just cruel to the universe.
“Needed a nap,” I grumbled, still not opening my eyes. I brought the blanket tighter around me. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“You okay, bub?” she asked, her voice softening.
My heart clenched. I burrowed deeper into the covers in an effort to cocoon myself.
“Just tired,” I said evasively. “Sometimes, a man just needs a nap.”
She hummed like she didn’t believe me, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
I quickly tried changing the subject. “Is my car ready?”
“It is,” she confirmed. “You can come pick it up any time before five-thirty. Save this number to your phone and text either me or Kip when you’re ready to pick it up, so we know to expect you.”
“Okay,” I said. I yawned. “Might be closer to your closing time before I get there.”
“That’s okay, bub. Go back to sleep. I’m sorry for disturbing you. Sweet dreams.”
My chest was going to implode from how tightly it was being squeezed. No one was ever this sweet to me.
“Thanks,” I rasped then quickly ended the call, feeling out of my element and way too goddamn needy for a man who wasn’t supposed to want anyone like this.
Sweet dreams…
If only she knew my dreams were rarely ever sweet anymore. They hadn’t been for a long time.
“Need me to come in with you?” Kreed asked as he pulled onto the parking lot of Tanaka Motors.
