“You are?” I ask. My face hurts from the large goofy grin I have plastered to my face. “What are you going to do with all your free time?”
“I can think of a few things,” his voice is now lower, sending shivers throughout my body. I could think of a few things too. “Are you staying with Missy tonight?”
“Yes, it’s movie night,” I say excitedly, bouncing on the balls of my feet. I’ve grown to love movie nights with Missy.
“Oh man, not good,” he jokes and we both laugh.
“Don’t worry, we’re watching a chick flick classic tonight,” I giggle.
“Let me guess, Pretty Woman?”
“How did you know?”
“Do you forget who my sister is? She used to make us watch it with her growing up,” I laugh out loud, thinking about him as a young kid being forced to watch one of the world’s greatest romantic comedies of all times. “I’m not a Julia Roberts fan because of it.”
“Oh, darling, I don’t know if I can commit to someone who isn’t a Julia Roberts fan,” I tease him. It’s a lie of course. I don’t think there is anything in the world that would keep me from committing to him.
“Now you really sound like my sister,” he jokes and then I hear him yawn. “Precious, I hate to do this but I’m exhausted.”
“Of course, I understand,” my smile slowly fades. I do understand but it has been so long since I heard his voice, I don’t want to end the call. I missed the sound of him almost as much as I’ve craved him. I can’t wait to have myself wrapped around him again. “What time does your flight get in?”
Forgiving him for the last two weeks was easy because my heart beats only for him. I didn’t want to wallow in misery because he would be home tomorrow, in my arms and the world would be right again.
I felt like I was floating.
Chapter 29
Alice
“I can’t let you go alone,” Zero informs me as I walk out the door.
“Sure,” I roll my eyes. These guys were driving me crazy and I was getting tired of the interrogations. It was a short trip between Missy’s and Hudson’s, less than five minutes if I hurry. “I don’t know what the big deal is. I’m just going down the street. Ten minutes tops.”
I can see the struggle in his face. He doesn’t want to let me go by myself and normally he wouldn’t. There is a flicker in his eyes before he speaks.
“Alright, text me when you get there and when you’re on your way back, the moment you get into the truck. Lock the doors behind you, both going in and coming out. If you see anything suspicious, you call me right away, in fact, keep your phone in your hand and your finger on the button just in case,” he brow wrinkles, worry dimpling their lines. Shit, I couldn’t believe he was really going to let me go by myself.
“Seriously, Zero, I’ll be fine,” I smirk.
He looks at me, gray eyes serious, daring me to challenge him. “This isn’t a joke. Do you think I want to play babysitter? Sweetheart, I’ve got better things I could be doing right now, cases I could be working on to make me some money. Instead, I’m doing my brother a solid and making sure his woman is here in the same condition as she was when he left her. If it means I have to turn into a stalker to make it happen, then so be it.”
Shit, I just poked the wrong bear. Speaking of Bear, I could really go for the strong and very silent type about now. Zero was normally calm and collected. This was a side of him I hadn’t experienced yet. Makes me wonder who peed in his cheerios.
“I promise, if anything seems out of place, I’ll call,” I show him my phone in my hand, the keys to the truck in my other hand. The guys taught me to drive last week and I took every opportunity I could get to put myself behind the wheel. It was exhilarating and I enjoyed the independence I gained from it. I climb into the truck before he changes his mind, throwing him a smile over my shoulder.
I take off down the road with a smile still on my face. All I could think about was tomorrow. Hudson would be home. I couldn’t wait to see him.
*****
Zero
Ten minutes my ass!
The house was dark when I pulled up exactly twenty minutes after Alice pulled away from Missy’s. She sent a text when she arrived, a text when she was inside and the alarm armed and five minutes later, she sent a text she was on her way out the door. It’s been ten minutes since her last text and Hudson’s truck is still parked in the driveway. I briefly think about the afternoon Dizzy and I spent teaching Alice to drive, and shake my head. It was a good thing I didn’t have to add driving instructor to my resume, I wasn’t exactly a patient teacher. Alice was in tears by the time Dizzy showed up, I’d never seen him so serious before. Thankfully he was able to calm her down and finish the lesson.