We both sighed simultaneously in contentment, and within minutes, I was out.
When I awoke Sunday morning to her smiling face, andnightmare free, I knew I wanted that for the rest of my life. It was the perfect start to another amazing day.
Dusty knocked on the door around eight, we went to pick up Griffin and ate breakfast with my family. Later that afternoon, we went out for pizza with some of our friends—those who could make it—and then that night I found myself back in bed with my wife.
Griffin had been over the moon that I was there with them, and it took a bit to calm him down so he could fall asleep.
Before I knew it, Monday rolled around. The usual routine kicked in with Patience heading off to work, only before she left, there was one slight change. I kissed her senseless, something I’d done many times over the previous few days. But that was as far as it had gone as we tried settling into the new development of me sleeping beside her each night.
After taking Griffin to school as I’d been doing more and more lately, I found myself alone with Dusty for the first time since she arrived. It was also the first time in days that tension had settled inside me again.
We were headed to grab coffee, and I knew there was a chance that Dusty, while needing to get away from her hometown for a bit, also wanted to talk about what happened all those months ago.
I wasn’t sure I could do it.
After that, we were headed toNo Surrender.I’d promised to take Dusty there after she’d heard so much about it from the guys at the barbecue. She was thinking we should visit the shooting range together. Neither of us had picked up a gun since being captured. She’d thought it might be therapeutic.
Again, it was another thing I wasn’t so sure about, but I planned to attempt it because the guys also wanted to officially talk to me about taking the job. I needed to be okaywith a range, the gun, and being around that atmosphere if I was serious about joining them.
To my surprise, Dusty had told me during coffee that she knew I wasn’t quite ready to talk about what went down, but when I was, she would be there. God, I was grateful for her spectacular perception and understanding.
After that, I just had to get through our time atNo Surrender.
But when my wife buzzed us in and my eyes met hers, I was damn happy I was there. No matter what came next, it was all worth it just to see her.
I quickly made my way to the front desk, rounded it, and gave her a kiss. It was clear that I was addicted to her lips—not that she seemed to mind.
Dusty groaned. “I’m happy for you both, but you two are getting really sappy.”
“Just wait until you find a man,” Patience told her as we pulled away from one another.
Dusty shook her head. “Nope. Not even on my radar right now.”
I could tell by the look in my wife’s eyes that she was thinking hard. If Dusty had lived by us, I had no doubt she’d alert the ladies, and they would be on another one of their matchmaking crusades.
Braxton and Lyric chose that moment to walk into the front lobby, so that conversation was shut down, which I could tell Dusty was grateful for.
“How about a tour for the two of you?” Brax said, motioning to Dusty and me. “Then we can talk before you do some shooting or whatever else floats your boat.”
Dusty clapped her hands excitedly. I didn’t know how she was so calm compared to me about the guns or why she seemed more at ease after everything that happened. Mytherapist said that everyone handled things differently, and we each had our own experience.
Maybe that was it? Or maybe she was just better at hiding her feelings than I was. I just hoped one day it didn’t sneak up on her all at once. If it did, I’d be there for her just like I knew she’d always be there for me.
Patience touched my back, drawing me back to the moment and out of my thoughts. I’d done it again, blanked on the question that had been asked, getting caught up with everything swirling around in my head.
“Tour sounds good,” I told the guys.
“Sounds good,” Lyric said, a big smile on his face.
I knew my brother-in-law was eager for me to start working with him. All the guys had, in fact, expressed that one time or another on Saturday night, and it felt damn good.
Braxton motioned toward the hallway leading to the left. “Let’s head this way first.”
He and Lyric began walking that way, Dusty right behind them, while I stalled for a second, needing one last taste of my wife.
Our lips met, and my soul settled.
She was definitely my medicine.
