“Okay, I have a question,” Dani says, looking right at me. “Do you still want to live in that house, after everything that happened?”
I lick my lips and take a deep breath. “Yeah, I do. But Brooks and I discussed it at length yesterday, and rather than trying to do a lot of it ourselves, we’re going to hire a construction company to finish the demo, clear out that attic, and rebuild forus. It’s not worth someone getting hurt again. We should leave the construction to the professionals.”
“That’s areallygood idea,” Skyla replies. “And then, once it’s all finished and new, the bad memories will be gone.”
Nodding, I sip my water again. “We’re going to make sure no one can ever use that attic again. Get the rodents out of there, remove the stairway, and close it up. We don’t need it.”
The girls and I chat for another fifteen minutes or so, and I don’t hear back from Brooks, but he’s probably bent over an engine right now, and he’ll reply when he can.
When my friends leave, I grab that new Mafia book and dig in.
Chapter Thirty-Two
BROOKS
Iwant to call or text her constantly to check in, but in case she’s sleeping, I don’t want to disturb her.
I shouldnothave come to work today. Jules assured me that she was feeling better and that she’s fine on her own, butI’m not fine.
I’m not okay at all.
My girl continues to have nightmares, waking up terrified and whimpering, and I hold her, reassuring her that nothing like that will ever happen again. The entire experience is one I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I’ll never get the sight of her, suspended in that floor and freezing, bleeding, and in pain, out of my head.
It’ll haunt me until the day I die.
“Why are you here, boss?” Mitch says as he saunters over my way.
“I own this business,” I remind him as I close the hood of an old Camero. “And it’s a workday.”
“Come on,” he says with a sigh. “When things are bad at home, you always tell me that I should go take care of my wife. Same goes. I can see it written all over your face that you’d ratherbe with her. You’re worried about her, and I get it. So go take care of your wife.”
I swallow and nod just as a text comes in. Checking my phone, I see that it’s from my wildfire.
Wildfire: Hey, my love. If you’re not too busy at the garage today, would you mind coming home early to be with me? I might have overestimated my willingness to be without you so soon.
The rough edges I’ve been carrying around all day suddenly smooth right out, and I look up at my friend.
“I’m going home.”
“Good. Tell her I hope she’s feeling better.”
Without replying to her text, I simply get in my truck to head home. As I pull into the driveway, I see Dani and Skyla pulling away. They both wave at me, and I wave back before parking and striding into the house.
When I get to the living room, I can’t help but stop and just stare at her. She’s reading a book, her candle is lit again, and her leg is propped up on the ottoman in front of her. She’s been wearing shorts because having anything brush against the wound irritates it even though it’s still covered in gauze.
“Hey, baby.”
She startles, but then she smiles at me.She doesn’t look like she’s about to have a panic attack.
We’re making huge progress.
“Sorry, I was absorbed in this story already. You came home.”
I cross to her and brace myself on my hands against the back of the couch on either side of her head, then lean in to kiss her softly.
“You needed me, so of course I came home. I’m going to take a quick shower, and then I’m all yours.”
“If my leg wasn’t an asshole, I’d join you.”
