Page 28 of Mad Boys


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Hell.

The bruise on my face throbbed, but I flexed my hands. I was ready for him.

RJ Wallach wasn’t touching her.

Ever again.

Ten

KC

Aubrey wasn’t quite snoring when I left the bedroom and closed the door behind me. I needed water badly, my throat hurt and my nose was runny. Even though I’d scrubbed in the shower, I hadn’t managed to get rid of the smell of smoke.

There were a series of messages on the room phone. I got ice water from the fridge, took several swallows, then tested my voice.

Oh. Yeah.

Nope. Not using it, I checked the room voicemails as I sank down into a chair, water bottle pressed to my face.

“Sweetheart,” Jackie said, her voice all kinds of relieved. “Thank you for having Aubrey send the message. No, I hadn’t heard about the fire and apparently, it’s justnowhitting the gossip sites. Call me when you can.” A squeal of sound from Pen made me smile as she half-chanted, “Kay, Kay, Kay.”

The next message was from Dix. “I’m getting back on a plane. I’ll be in late tonight.” The relief I experienced at the sound of his voice was staggering. “Stay at the hotel until I get there. If you need anything, text my phone. It hasn’t hit the news out here yet, but reporters have it. Davina got some calls at the house.”

I grimaced. We needed to send a message to Teddy. The last message was from the front desk, letting us know our coffee delivery was here. I glanced at the wall clock. The message was four hours old.

Fuck.Sorry, Dix.I pushed up from the sofa I’d perched on and went to the door. Flipping the lock, I pulled it open. There, sitting right by the door, were three shopping bags and a pair of take-out coffee cups. I stared at the latter almost mournfully, but when I picked them up—they weren’t cold.

At all.

After getting everything inside, I checked the coffees. They were fresh. Maybe coffee had been delivered hours earlier, but someone had gotten us more. Not for the first time, I wished I had my phone. I tested a sip and sighed happily as I carried the second one into the bedroom.

Aubrey lifted her head to squint at me. Her hair looked as bad as mine, haphazard and definitely sticking straight up in places. I shouldn’t have gone to sleep with mine wet, but I could deal with the mess in a bit.

“You got us coffee?” Aubrey said with a yawn. I shook my head, then jerked my thumb at the door. “Someone delivered us coffee. Huh.”

I made the “D” letter with my fingers.

Relief crossed Aubrey’s face. “I love that man.”

Chuckling, I left her to wake up while I carried the caffeine back to the other room to check the bags. My coffee was almost perfect. As much as my throat was still scratchy and sore, the coffee was the perfect balm.

There were running shoes in the first bag. Two different pairs. One was the same brand I normally wore, the second was slightly different with a note that just said,These are better.

Weird.

By the time I finished emptying the bags though, I was pretty damn sure these hadn’t come from Dix. Sports bras. Moisture-wicking panties. Running shorts, leggings, and sweats—there were two moisture-wicking t-shirts, a tank top, and a very familiar jacket.

It wasn’t until I pulled out the last item that a piece of paper fluttered out. Pausing, I knelt to pick it up.

Ace,

You guys were sleeping, I grabbed another set of coffees for you, but I had to go. Will find you tomorrow. Call me.

There was no signature, but it didn’t need one. The addition of a phone number had me doing a slow blink. When Aubrey eventually emerged from the bedroom, she studied the note then me.

“So, he’s back…”

I nodded slowly. One thing I’d kind of been counting on this year washisabsence. Maybe it had been a foolish hope. Ramsey practically worked at the school and Jonas was in my grade. Lachlan was supposed to be gone.

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