AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At least I hadn’t misjudged my friend. He’d been looking out for me. In my rage, I hadn’t considered the authorities would have my phone and home tapped.
The rational and carefully controlled reactions I prided myself on were nowhere to be found since Lexie had entered my life. I felt reckless. And it was uncomfortable.
But I wasalive.
“Is something wrong with your phone?” Lexie pointed to the device in my hand.
“No.” I offered hers back. “How is he?”
“Thank goodness for Millie and Muffy. They’ve brought him back.” The lines of worry that seemed to be carved into her face had deepened in the past few hours.
“And you?” I touched her cheek.
“Furious. Spooked.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m speaking like you now. One word answers.”
“To the point.” I pulled her close, needing to feel her. “Nothing wrong with that.”
“Can—” she looked up at me with those troubled green eyes. “Can we stay here for a while? I can’t risk—”
“As long as you want.”
The thought of them back at their apartment, regardless of the reason why, brought on another new sensation. It was what I guessed felt like a revolt inside of me.
I didn’t want them to go.
What a turnaround. Not so long ago, I hadn’t wanted them here. They had invaded my space, made it more of a home than it had ever been.
“Thank you.” She kissed my cheek.
Thank you? She didn’t need to thank me for anything. If anyone owed gratitude, it was me to them.
“I think I can drive tomorrow,” she said before I could respond. “My headache isn’t so bad now.”
“The hell you’re getting behind the wheel until you’ve been cleared by a physician.” I wouldn’t put her at unnecessary risk.
“I am not a fan of being told what to do.” Her voice had lost its calm undertone.
“It’s not my order. Or do you not take instruction from medical professionals either?” I clamped my mouth shut. It was the wrong thing to say. Because once again, I couldn’t think clearly when it came to her.
Her hand flew to her hip. “I’ve yet to see or hear the medical opinion that I can’t do anything for a week.”
I pulled out a business card. “Here’s Dr. Sullivan’s number. Call him.”
She stepped away from me. “You have the doctor’s card with you?”
It sounded as if she’d have been less surprised if I’d pulled a snake out of my pocket.
“Of course.” Why wouldn’t I have his contact information readily available? I couldn’t risk her health. And judging by the look on her face, it wasn’t a good idea to mention all of his numbers were stored in my phone too.
She took another step back. It was too much distance.
“You can’t dictate our lives,” she said, lethally quiet.
“You certainly dictate mine.” I hadn’t meant to admit that.
Hurt flashed across her face. “I would never.”
“I can’t think. Can’t control my actions. Speak without thought.”
