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Oliver pulled him into a hug that made his spine crack before stepping away. “Once you get settled in town again, we need to hang out more. Now that you brought up weekly game nights, you’re not getting out of it.”
Sam shrugged, “I’ll live with the socialization.” Then, with a nod goodnight to each of us, he left. Once his car pulled away, I looked at Oliver and bit my lip.
“The woman he’s hung up on, does she still live in town?” I asked, and Oliver winced.
“Yeah, she does. I did my best to give her space since I know it hurt her to see me, but last I heard, she was doing fine. She works at the animal shelter.” Then he shot me a curious look. “Why?”
I shrugged, putting the dishes in the sink. “I was curious if her being here played a part in him deciding to come back or not, but I knew better than to ask.”
I wouldn’t blame that woman if she didn’t want to be near Sam after their history. Having someone you cared about try to make you decide between them and your home…it was awful, and while Sam seemed genuinely regretful, the pain wouldn’t disappear because he was sorry.
Oliver shrugged. “It may have, but knowing him, he had other reasons for coming back too. Don’t worry about it, Jen. If something happens between him and Cecilia, it’ll be because things were meant to happen. He isn’t the sort to push himself where he isn’t wanted.”
I was glad to hear that, for Cecilia more than anyone.
Shaking the entire topic to the side, I bumped my hip into his and said. “You want to get a bath tonight?”
His entire face lit up and he nodded, all but dumping the rest of the dishes into the sink. “The answer to that will never be no.”
I let him pull me toward the bathroom, not even bothering to muffle my laugh at his exuberance. That excitement was one of the many things that made me fall for him, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Chapter 24
“You don’t have to go with me to the store, you know?” Oliver said, watching in amusement as I almost walked head-first into the wall while trying to rub the exhaustion out of my eyes.
We’d stayed up all night watching movies yesterday, and I was paying for it today. Fighting back a yawn, I waved him off. “I know, but it’s more fun with someone there, you said it yourself, and since you’re picking up things for me-.”
He kissed me, an affectionate smile curling his lips as he shook his head. “Technically, it’s for dinner, which I’ll be eating, so it’s for both of us.” I went to argue again but he nudged me back toward the bed.
“Jen, you don’t operate well on little sleep and this isn’t something big. Get a nap in while I snag the ingredients for dinner. Please?”
It was the ‘please’ that got me.
Sighing, I plopped back on the bed with a nod. “Okay, but wecouldjust switch the dinner plan so you don’t need to go to the store.” I pouted, and he kissed it away.
“We could, but you’ve been craving this particular dinner for days, and now I want it too.”
Knowing a losing battle when I saw one, I gave in. “Fine, but will you wake me when you get back? I don’t want to be out too long, or I’ll never sleep tonight.”
He hummed his agreement, waiting for me to get back in bed before dropping one last kiss on my head. “I’ll be home in no time.” He said, the words brushing my head as sleep reached its grabbing hands toward me.
Distantly I heard the car start and pull away, but I paid it no mind. The drive into town took maybe ten minutes, the grocery store was small, and so he’d be back in less than half an hour.
That was the perfect amount of time for a nap.
I’d been drifting in and out of sleep for who knows how long when the soft thud of the front door closing pierced my hazy brain. Rolling over, squinting up at a shape, I pulled at the covers around my face, trying to wake up. Apparently he was back already. I needed to get up. Mourning the tiny amount of sleep I’d gotten, I went to sit up, only for a hand to clamp over my mouth.
“I told you I’d find you.” The voice that wasnotOliver’s cut through my tiredness like a knife through butter, and I lashed out instinctively. My elbow collided with Harvey’s nose–a sickening crunch ringing through the room–and I scrambled away.
He howled, holding his face as blood ran down it in rivers. I didn’t stop, instinct driving me out of bed and toward the gun safe even as my brain locked up. I’d barely gotten it unlocked and gripped my pistol before a hand fisted in my hair and flung me back. The gun slipped from my hand.
Pinpricks of pain flared hot through my scalp, and I blinked the tears out of my eyes to see Harvey’s face twisted into a truly terrifying snarl.
“You bitch; I’ve dealt with more than enough thanks to you. We’re going to get this sham of a marriage officiated, and then you’re not going to survive the wedding night.” His grip stayed firm in my hair as his other arm reached behind him.
He came back with a cloth, and it didn’t take a genius to see where this was going.
Not breathing in when he shoved it over my nose, I tried to place where the gun had fallen when he yanked me back. I couldn’t see it because he was blocking most of the room, and my head was spinning from lack of oxygen.
