“That’s crap!” I grimaced again and turned the volume the rest of the way down. “You always call me, unless you do need help, then you take everything on yourself and try not to bother me. When’re you going to learn? I want to be there for the goodandthe bad!”
“I’m sorry, so sorry, Todd. You know I love you, and you’re my best friend in the whole world. I’ll make this up to you.” A cell phone wouldn’t be enough. I’d have to grovel. I hated how much he worried.
“Damn right you will, missy!” His voice softened. “Now, are you okay or not?”
“I think so. I’m banged up and sore. I have a mild concussion, that’s throwing me a little. Overall though, it could’ve been a lot worse.” I curled onto my side, tired.
“Do you need anything?”
“No, Arch feels guilty I was with him when this happened, and the three of them haven’t let me lift a finger.”
“Good. Let them. They almost got you killed. I’d like to concuss all of them!” I could picture him waving his fist as he spoke.
I laughed. “I don’t think to concuss is a thing.”
“I’ll make it a thing. I’m that mad.”
“There’s no way Arch could’ve avoided this, Todd. Don’t be mad. And if they keep spoiling me like this, well, hell, I could get used to it.” I wouldn’t complain about the spoiling part, only the pain.
“I’ll be up in an hour-ish to check on you. I love you.” His sad voice hit me right in the guilt. I really hurt him.
“I love you, too, and again, I’m sorry I didn’t call you.” Tears fell down my cheeks. I hated causing him any sliver of pain, especially considering how he spoiled me.
“I forgive you if you promise to call if you need anything at all. Even if you only need someone to lift the remote and change the channel for you. Call me!”
“I promise. I promise with sugar on top.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I tried to decide what to do next—wallow in my guilt until I fell asleep or go forage for food. Mouth-watering smells soon drifted into my bedroom. Searching for food won.
I still wore the boxers from my middle of the night embarrassment, but I made a stop in the bathroom to splash water on my face and brush my hair. I didn’t want to looktoodragon lady-ish and scare him away completely.
I walked out to find Wes gone and Gray cooking in my kitchen. “Good morning,” I said.
“Morning. Sorry for the intrusion, but I make a better breakfast than Wes does.” I laughed at their switcharoo.
Bacon sizzled in a pan, and biscuits rose in the oven. He even put butter out to soften. I helped myself to a glass of orange juice and sat on one of the bar stools across from the cook top to wait for my breakfast to be finished.
“You practice lawandcook? What else can you do?” I winked, feeling much more flirtatious than normal. His head rose from the pan with a mixed expression of desire and incredulity. He liked me teasing him. After his care at the hospital, it was good to tease him a bit.
“I love to cook. So you know, I can make things more complicated than a simple southern breakfast,” he replied as he stirred gravy for the biscuits. I caught him tossing Satan bits of bacon out of the corner of my eye.
“Oh? You’ll have to try to impress me one day. I love to cook, as well.” I could make a handful of dishes, and the rest? Follow the recipe and pray.
“I’d be glad to if you’ll return the favor.”
I grinned into my orange juice. I’d made another date with one of my hunky lawyers. It was some sort of record. I couldn’t wait to tell Todd.
“Do you have any other surprising talents I should know about?” I asked him casually, masking the fact that I was dying to get his answer.
“A few, I guess. I play guitar, but I don’t take it seriously.”
“Cool! Have you ever played in a band? I can totally imagine you rocking out on stage.” I needed to chill. I was being a little pushy.
“For a little while in high school. We argued all the time, so I gave it up.”
I dialed it back a bit, tried not to sound overly interested. “Anything else?”
