“Had a thing.” He smiled tiredly. “Got about two hours of sleep this morning.”
I set my wine on the coffee table. “Have you eaten?”
He checked his watch. “Not since this morning.”
“Austin,” I admonished, and rose to my feet. “I’m going to fix you something to eat at least.”
His phone buzzed and he nodded. “Appreciate it, baby.”
He answered his call and I headed back to the kitchen. I pulled out bread and cheese, figuring grilled cheese was quick and easy to prepare, and it would tide him over for a little while.
I was setting the food on the table when he walked back into my apartment, his face grim... well, grimmer than it had been twenty minutes ago.
“You okay?”
He nodded and sat at the table, devouring the food in record time. “Thanks, babe,” he said, and dropped his plate into the sink.
“Got time to sleep for a bit?” I asked.
Austin shook his head, sliding his hand to my neck.
“What can I do?”
“You’re doin’ it, babe. You make everything better,” he said, and pulled me close.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. A familiar scent registered and I leaned back. “Why do you smell like gun powder? Please tell me you were at a firing range.”
“Sure.”
“Are you carrying?”
He stroked my cheek. “I’m always carrying.”
“You’re scaring me a little, honey. What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’ that won’t be handled tonight, so I just have to deal.”
“Are you in danger?”
“Not currently, no.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I said.
“I know, baby, but I can’t talk about it.”
“Fine.” I settled my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and we stood like this for a while. Our peace, however, was disturbed when he answered his phone again.
“Yo.” He tried to pull away, but I held him tighter, so he settled and wrapped an arm around me. “Yeah. No. What do Crow and Hatch say? Shit. Yeah, I’m here. No. Okay. Fuck me, Mack. Yeah. Fine. Okay. If that’s the case, then I’m gonna grab some shut-eye. See ya.” He hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket again.
“Are you staying?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Kind of you to offer, baby.”
I smiled up at him. “Well, you pretty much announced you were going to, so I have benevolently decided not to kick you out.”
Austin laughed. “Appreciate that. I’ll lock up and meet you in the bedroom.”
“Um,no,” I countered. “I’m going to bed.You’resleeping on the sofa.”
