AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hobo smiles softly and whispers, “Your shallowness has been a godsend.”
Breathing easier, I settle my cheek against his chest and listen to his steady heartbeat.
As Kourtney leaves us alone, I hear her complaining to someone outside about how her brother needs a proper room.
“Is there a manager I need to speak to?” she demands, making Hobo chuckle.
Soon, we move upstairs to a bigger room with its own bathroom, a decent-sized window overlooking the woods, and a fold-out bed. I look over the menu, wondering about their low-salt options.
“My blood pressure is fine,” Hobo says and pokes his thumb at the machine still attached to him. “I was just rattled when I got here.”
“You also lost blood,” I mumble, unsure where he’s hurt besides his bandaged bicep.
“I felt better once you walked through the door, and I knew our story wasn’t over yet.”
Tears burn my eyes as I hurry to glue myself to him again. “I want to get old together.”
“I might go bald like my grandfather,” he replies while running his hand through his thick, messy hair.
Sharing his smile, I point out, “My ass will likely spread far and wide like my mom’s.”
“Well, if my ears get bushy like Five’s did when he got old, I give you my solemn promise to keep them trimmed.”
“And I swear I’ll keep my muff tidy, even after your arthritis keeps you from going down on me anymore.”
Hobo lets out a loud chuckle as his arms wrap around me. “We’re going to be excellent old people. I already like soup and think music is too loud.”
“I’ve been known to stop at yard sales and publicly share inappropriate medical stories.”
Seeming more alert than when I arrived in his room in the ER, a smiling Hobo sighs loudly. “Yeah, old age will be a breeze if we double team that shit.”
I kiss Hobo and try to offer him my strength in the way he often does for me. Unable to wrap my head around the situation he faced today, I’m just relieved my wild man has returned to me.
“Yagger was really fucked up when I found him,” Hobo says, and I think of his club brother somewhere in the hospital. “He was scared and losing himself to the pain. I got to talking about you and food. Well, one thing led to another, and now you’ve got to make a bunch of burgers for him once he’s out of the hospital.”
Snickering at Hobo’s sheepish grin, I scoot up higher so I can kiss him. He doesn’t hesitate, even if his body must be exhausted.
Unfortunately, our affection is interrupted by a nurse. I whisper to him that I’ll be in charge of his showers until he’s fully healed. That puts a smirk on his face through the nurse’s visit followed by one by a doctor.
Once they’re gone, I return to the bed where Hobo and I talk about my sister. He’s clearly edgy about her interfering with the life we’re building. I show her latest text claiming I’m clearly unwilling to stop digging a hole for myself. When that changes, she’ll be happy to help me rebuild my life.
“She wants me to run her New York City restaurants while she travels the world with her husband.”
“Isn’t New York City one of the places you wanted to live at one point?”
“I wanted to live everywhere at some point. But none felt right. I was even ready to give up on McMurdo Valley until you walked into my shop.”
“There’s no harm in considering your sister’s offer.”
Hobo says those words in a calm tone, but his gaze reveals his fear of an impending rejection.
“I don’t want to chase any jobs,” I promise and stroke his jaw. “I don’t care where I live. None of that makes me happy. I’m going where you go. My home is wherever you are.”
Hobo smiles like I picked the right words to soothe the fears rising inside him. He doesn’t mention Quana for the rest of the night. We also don’t talk about the shooting.
He occasionally gets updates about his club brothers. Yagger is out of surgery. Dice woke up but seems confused about the last few days. Ruin is still at the hospital. Tomcat just arrived to give his cousin a break. Everyone else is safe at home. Walla Walla even sends me a picture of Rose the Cat and her kittens in their little igloo.
Later, Irina texts to say how they’re remaining at the Rogers’s estate since it’s secure and allows Eagle to let down his guard.
