He slipped past me toward the bathroom, and I tossed my clothes into the corner.I climbed under the blankets, and the mattress felt heavenly.I pulled the comforter all the way up to my chin and tried very hard not to smile.
Wheels was sleeping in my room.Just sleeping, but still… I liked knowing he was there.
A few minutes later, he returned.He’d washed up but otherwise looked exactly the same.
Boots.Jeans.T-shirt.
He reached over and switched off the light.Darkness settled over the room, and the mattress shifted as he carefully stretched out beside me.
True to his word, he stayed on top of the blankets, boots and all.
I glanced sideways.“You really meant it.”
“I usually do.”
“I thought maybe you’d reconsider.”
“Nope.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I laughed.
“I’ve been called worse, and I like to be prepared.God knows what is going to happen around here anymore.”
We lay there in silence, both staring at the ceiling.
After a minute, I spoke.“Is this how you thought things were going to go when you moved to Madison?”
He turned his head slightly.“You mean sleeping in bed with my boots on?”
A laugh escaped before I could stop it.“I mean...yeah, but also this whole thing with The Ledger.”
He thought about it for several seconds.“No.”
“No?”
“I expected some pushback.”
“From the city?”I asked.
“Yeah.”
He folded one arm behind his head.“New motorcycle club moves into town?Figured somebody would complain.Maybe local businesses wouldn’t like us.”
“Normal stuff.”
“Exactly.”
“But not this.”
He shook his head.“Nothing like this.”
I stared back at the ceiling.“I keep wondering what they’re protecting.”
“So do we.”
“It has to be something big.”
“It is.”
