Page 129 of Rumor Has It

--9am your time.

Love you.

--Love you.

We eat dinner, and I clean up while Rumor takes a long bubble bath. I wander around, looking from room to room. It’s a home, not just a cold, stark building.

Boone has every room decorated so welcoming. I imagine he had a team of people rush in to do it before we got here. I find myself back in the master, turning the bed down for us.

“Are we sleeping in here?” Rumor sneaks up behind me, jolting me.

“Dear Lord, you scared the life outta me.” I lay my hand over my heart. “Yes, it’s cozy in here.”

She climbs in, scooting to the other side and reaches for her iPad. “Are we safe here?”

“We are. Boone would never let something happen to us.”

She snuggles in, taking a deep breath. “You’re right, Boone’s here protecting us.”

“Huh?” I pull my brows together.

She points to the pillow. “It smells like him.” She rolls over, flipping through her screen.

My eyes flicker to the pillow in front of me, Boone’s bedside clock on the nightstand next to it. This must be his side of the bed. I bite my lip, cutting my eyes to Rumor.

She’s not paying attention, and I see my chance. I bury my face in the cloud of goodness, inhaling like his scent is a drug to me. Most days, Boone overwhelms me with his goodness.

Today, he’s a well needed commodity. I wallow in the moment, taking him in and letting him invade every corner of my mind and soul. Boone has always loved me on the days I didn’t love myself.

No matter how much I pushed him away, he anchored me. My heart knows only his, and he loves us unconditionally. I hold the pillow to my face, screaming silently into it.

Something in the distance disturbs me, and I rouse, feeling well rested. Blinking, I spring up, turning to check the time. “Rumor.” I shake her, waking her up.

“Good mornin’.” She leans over me with hair everywhere.

I grimace. “No more going to sleep with wet hair. It’s a ponytail kinda day.”

“I slept so good.” She smiles, stretching.

“Same, girl. Too good.” I yawn with her and slide from the bed. “We need to get a move on.”

She follows me downstairs, and I set out the cereal with a bowl and spoon. “I think I need a map for all of these cabinets. I’m gonna go get our things together. Eat and meet me upstairs.”

“Okey dokey.” She grins, pouring her food out.

I rush back up the stairs, packing her things and laying out some clothes. After a quick shower, I carry our things down and set them by the front door.

The envelope Boone gave me is on the side table. I pick it up, looking for Derick’s number. I dump the contents out, shifting through everything. There’s a letter sitting next to my things that catches my eye.

My head begins to ache, along with my heart. I pick it up, blinking multiple times as I try to register what I’m seeing. Reed had sent me his work address for an outing we’re obviously not going to now.

I search for it, pulling it up, and I compare it to the letter on Boone’s table. Nope, not the same. I hit ‘contacts’, calling the garage.

“Hey, what’s up?” Ridge answers quickly. Maisyn must’ve told him.

I take a deep, steadying breath. “I need a favor.”

“You’ve got it, shoot.”