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Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I headed back toward Diana and the view.
Because, at some point during my text conversation, the iPad had died.
“Fifty percent my ass,” I grumbled darkly.
Diana blinked her eyes open, then closed them again. “You got a pillow?”
I didn’t.
“I have a thigh,” I offered.
She didn’t offer me a smile or thanks. Instead, she just scooted over until her head was in my lap.
I reached down and started to play with her hair.
At first, I tried to braid it. But when I realized that I was just tying it in knots, I switched over to just running my fingers through the long locks.
I did this for what felt like a long time, but must’ve only been a very short one.
Because my phone vibrated, causing me to reach for it.
Etienne: Ten minutes out. You have the spare key to your van with you?
Me: No. Why? How do you know the van isn’t with me?
Stalker.
Etienne: Because your van shows that it’s parked about half a mile away from where your phone says you are. And I was wondering if it was closer so I could bring it to you.
Me: How do you know the van can be brought to me?
Etienne: Because you’ve been going to this place for two weeks straight in between appointments. I’ve seen you get closer than that before.
With a roll of my eyes, I texted back.
Me: They’re in the usual spot in the wheel well.
I waited for another message, but none ever came, so I went back to sifting my hands through her hair.
I did this for another ten minutes before I heard the soft hum of my van making its way to me.
When it arrived, Etienne and Bain stepped out of it, heading toward me.
Bain, looking concerned, looked at his girl. Then at me questioningly.
I shrugged. “Bad day.”
He nodded, understanding exactly what I meant.
He bent down, scooped her up into his arms, then walked her over to the van and laid her down on the back seat.
She didn’t stir.
Etienne helped me gather the trash and take it to the van, along with my dead iPad.
Only when I was empty-handed did he catch my belt loop and tug me toward him.
I went willingly, because no matter how miffed I was about him leaving for two days, I still really loved him.
I loved him.
I loved him a whole lot.
“You got anything to say to me?” he asked.
As in, do you want to tell me you love me today?
He didn’t have to say the words for me to understand what he was thinking.
Neither one of us had outright said “I love you” to each other. It’d become a game. He gave me everything I could ever want, met every need I ever needed met, and ultimately showed me what I’d been missing in not having a man all these years. And then he beat around the bush and teased me relentlessly.
“I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose,” I told him. “And I had to wake up three times last night to pee since I was talked into that gallon of water a day crap.”
“It’s a half gallon.” Bain chuckled as he closed the door to the van quietly. “Let’s go.”
“You okay with leaving your bike here for a while?” I asked, his landing eyes on me, leering.
“Considering you can’t find it without directions and a fuckin’ map, hell yeah, I’m okay leaving it for a while,” he answered. “I like the location. Not too far away. Not too close.”
“If you buy this land before I get the chance, I’ll tell my best friend and she’ll never let you forget it,” I growled, placing both of my hands on my hips.
Bain grinned, making eye contact with the man behind me, then winked.
I felt like I was missing something.
But instead of pursuing it, I gestured toward the van. “She’s eaten about a pound of food. She should be good until at least tomorrow morning. But if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
Bain pulled me into his arms, a quick, fierce hug that left me suddenly breathless before letting me go.
“I’ll drive,” he said.
I got into the passenger seat, only to have Etienne pull me back out, set me down on my feet, then get into the seat instead. Once he was firmly planted, he pulled me into his arms, and I sighed before leaning into him fully.
There was no fight left in me.
I could use a cuddle.
Sensing my acquiescence, he curled his arms around me and held me to him while we bounced our way out of the field that led up to the lookout.
“You care if I take your van?” he asked, looking at his sleeping wife.
I held out my keys to him. “Sure. I’ll just grab a hotel tonight.”
Etienne snorted from behind me and corrected, “She’ll be at our place. You can bring it by in the morning.”
