The obsidian edge to his voice cut through some of the rawness inside of me. It’d been so long since someone had told me her behavior was wrong.
I pulled out of his hold, but I only had the energy to stare at his chest. “I said I’d manage her care, but I’d never see her again.” I tried to inhale, but it sounded like I was driving over washboard roads.
He brushed loose strands of hair off my face. “Good for you.”
“I don’t want to be like her,” I whispered. “But I left her hurt and alone in the hospital.”
He kissed the middle of my forehead. “You’re a good person. The fact that you’re questioning what happened tells me you’re the exact opposite of her. I didn’t know your aunt, but I bet she’d be proud.” He smoothed his thumbs over my cheeks. “After you get some rest, you’ll see the situation clearer. You’ll see I’m right.”
“You’re not always right, Bailey.”
He placed his next kiss on my lips. “There was one time I was wrong, and that was about you. I’ll never make that mistake again. Right now, I just want to run you a hot bath, sit with you while you soak, and then tuck you in and hold you while you sleep.”
I cupped his face. Having his strength, his care, made doing hard things easier. Before, I felt like I was locked outside of a warm house, looking at the people like the Baileys. I wasn’t a part of them. But Teller had brought me inside. He’d carried me up his stairs and into his bed. He made me feel like I was worth loving. And I just might be falling in love with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Madison
My eyes were crusty when I woke. Teller had let me sleep for the last couple of days. My nights had been fitful. I hadn’t slept well the night after my blowup with Mom. Then, like the obedient daughter I was, I’d worried about her instead of the business I had to open.
I rubbed my eyes and rolled up. My phone buzzed, but I didn’t answer right away. The hospital hadn’t called since Mom’s accident. All I could do was sit and worry about her.
I’d focus on Flatlanders, then.
The windows were in. Same with the booths. The taps and soda fountains would be installed this week. Then I’d be ready for a soft opening. I was aiming for a couple of weeks after Tenor and Ruby’s wedding. I wanted to attend and there was no way I would risk working through it.
Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I blew out a hard breath. What could I bake?
That wasn’t the question. I’d loaded Teller’s kitchen up with flour, sugar, and butter. I could bake anything I wanted. I had no one to give it to, and I’d already filled the freezer of his beer fridge with sweets. If I made something, who would I give it to?
Ugh. I hated being in a perpetual pity party. I could make a sweets drop at the senior center.
My phone buzzed again. I yawned and grabbed it off the table.
Ruby: Call me when you’re awake.
What would Ruby want? We didn’t have a social relationship. We had a social media one.
I squinted at the time. Ten. Teller had probably been working for hours already. It hadn’t mattered how much he’d worn me out last night, I’d tossed and turned. All in all, ten wasn’t bad. I’d have my hours switched around by the wedding. I’d taken the weekend off. I even had a dress. One I hadn’t shown anyone. I might change my mind one or three times by then.
I called Ruby.
“How are you?” she asked instead of saying hello.
“Good.” I was, mostly. If I admitted I was bored, I’d feel like I wasn’t doing enough at the bar. I’d also have to confess that I wanted my own space. That had been the benefit of staying at Flatlanders. It’d been mine. “I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to do all day to be productive.”
“Do you have posts scheduled?”
I smiled. “Yes, ma’am. Tenor got photos of guys’ night for me.” Instead of getting everyone’s faces, he’d gotten a lot of denim-clad ass. My likes were going to blow up.
“Nice. I can’t wait to see them. So—can we come over?”
“Over where?”
“Wherever you want. Teller said we could all go to his place. We’ll bring food and drinks, and we have rides if we get too tipsy.”
I risked sounding dense. “Who’s we?”
