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After going over everything, I was finally discharged and walked out to Tripp’s truck.
One quick stop at the Walgreens in Uvalde, and we were heading back home to Oak Springs. It was only a forty-five-minute drive, but the second I leaned my head back, the pain meds took over and I was out.
The feeling of warm arms carrying me caused me to let out a contented sigh. My entire body felt like I was lying on a cloud.
I was placed gently on what felt like a bed. I opened my eyes to see my bedroom curtains and then Hemi appeared in front of me. I smiled.
“Hemi,” I whispered. I pulled her to me, her warmth comforting me even more, and I drifted back to sleep.
Light shining in from my bedroom window had me squinting. I went to stretch and stopped when I felt the pain in my side.
“Shit,” I mumbled as I managed to get myself out of bed. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air. My mother must have been making breakfast.
Walking slowly, I headed into my bathroom and brushed my teeth. A quick splash of water on my face caused a start as I stared at myself in the mirror.
“I look like death.”
A quick ponytail and better wash of my face to remove the dirt and make-up from yesterday made me realize I needed a lengthy shower.
“Mom! I’m jumping in the shower,” I called out as I turned on the hot water.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood in there before Hemi came running in.
“Hey there, beautiful!” I said as I stepped out of the shower. My rib was killing me and as much as I wanted to reach down and pick up my new puppy, I knew I couldn’t.
“Hank. Crap, I need to pay him for Hemi.”
I dried off and wrapped the towel around my body. I needed to get my cell phone back. I was positive Toby had texted to confirm about tonight. I hated to break the news to him that things weren’t going to work out between us, but the sooner I did it, the better.
“Come on, Hemi. Let’s go see what your grandma is making for breakfast. Have you met Lady?”
I walked down the hallway and noticed the guest bedroom door open. The bed had been slept in last night, and I was surprised my mother hadn’t made the bed before starting breakfast. That was one of her biggest pet peeves. It was so late when we got home from the hospital, she probably overslept and wanted to get a quick start on breakfast.
As I walked into the living room, I headed to the landline phone. Paxton had teased me for having it, but it was a good thing I did. I started to dial Tripp’s cell. After calling it over and over for years, I had the damn thing memorized. His number would forever be engrained in my memory. I’d always thought it was strange he didn’t change it. I figured for sure he would have gotten tired of me calling him so much.
“Mom, that smells so good,” I said as I took out the Oak Springs phone book and looked up breeders to get Hank paid for Hemi.
That’s when I heard it. A cell phone ringing. In my house. And not my cell phone.
Closing my eyes, I turned while saying a prayer.
Please don’t be his. Please.
It stopped ringing the moment I heard Tripp’s voice. In stereo.
My eyes sprang open and standing before me was Tripp.
“Oh my God. What are you doing here?”
He kept the phone to his ear. “You’ve been asking me that question a lot lately.”
I hung up and walked over to him. “Yeah, well, this time you’re in my house. So, again, what are you doing here?”
“Taking care of you,” he said as he put the phone in his pocket.
I laughed, then stopped, my face pinched when the pain hit me. “Really? I don’t need to be taken care of, thank you very much.”
His eyes moved down my body and there was no denying the look of lust in them. I realized I was standing naked with only a towel wrapped around me.
Tripp’s tongue ran over his bottom lip like it often did when he was turned on. Some things never changed. My core pulled tight, and I wanted to accidentally pull my towel off.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I chastised myself for thinking that way. I needed to take back the power in this stand-off. I came to my senses.
My fingers snapped in Tripp’s face, causing him to look up at me. “Um, hello? My eyes are up here?”
A sexy grin moved over his face, and I was pretty sure I let out a small moan.
Ugh. Asshole.
“Why are you in my house, Tripp? Didn’t you have to meet your girlfriend last night for a late night fuck session?”
