I stared down at the pink duffel bag alongside the black one on the bed.
The one Alex had packed.
The other? Trevor’s doing.
I knew what Trevor had packed, but what had Alex chosen? I wasn’t sure if I should check with him still hovering protectively in the doorway. What if we wound up in underwear-talking territory again? Or, worse, while I held a pair in my hands?
I was so overtired and emotionally spent, I just might talk about my “drawers” again. I didn’t trust myself.
“You didn’t have to walk me to my room, though I appreciate the gesture.” I slowly turned to face him. “Ryder and Reed are just doinga quick perimeter sweep because Ryder’s overly cautious, right? They’ll be back inside soon.” It was too cold, snowy, and windy for them to be out in that mess. At least we’d made it here safely before the storm had picked up.
He set his shoulder against the interior doorframe and quietly stared at me. “Mm-hmm,” he finally said.
“Not going to leave until someone is upstairs with me, huh?” I forced a smile, shocked I was still capable of such a thing.
Before he had a chance to answer, a text came through. I glanced at the lock screen to check who it was. Of course, there was only one person who had this number, so who else would it be? Ryder would get the messages from Mitch, not me. “It’s Trevor.”
Alex straightened at my use of his name, taking one step back, nearly into the hall. Was Trevor coming between us even when he wasn’t here?
Also, had Trevor really turned down leading a special group at Secretary Chandler’s request because he didn’t want to lie to me?
I had no clue what to make of that. Heck, I didn’t know what to make of anything I’d learned today.
I picked up the phone to open his text. He’d sent a photo of Chase curled under a blanket with a dog sprawled across the bottom of the bed.
Trevor:He’s asleep. Hope you get some too.
I sent back a quick message and a thank-you before returning the phone to the nightstand. “Chase is good. Sleeping with their dog. Now he’s going to want one, too.” Probably not a bad idea after what he went through this weekend.
“Trevor will move mountains to keep his son safe,” he said in a low voice. “And apparently do anything to protect his relationship with you—even turn down a job the majority of Tier One operators would kill for.”
There was something in that statement, something that went beyond the surface. He was trying to tell me Trevor wanted me back, wasn’t he?
But he doesn’t. I mean, I don’t think.
“I have a feeling you would move mountains, too,” was all I could manage, not sure if I should unpack the second part of his statement right now.
“Of course.” The tight nod he surrendered didn’t do wonders in helping me believe he was understanding what I’d been saying.
My eyes drifted to his side where his wound was currently covered by his shirt. That scar had been torn open today, a brutal reminder of the betrayal we both carried.
“So, who’s been in charge of texting my best friend?” I asked as I forced myself to look away from him, deciding to check the bag he’d packed even though he was still there.
I undid the zipper as slowly as I had cut the tape on Mitch’s box last Friday.
Who knew I’d be starting a game of Jumanji by opening that box? And now we had to keep playing until someone won, or we’d be trapped forever in this hellish world Mitch had sucked us into.Too bad I used to play that game with Chase. Never again now.
“Ryder placed Reed in charge of talking to her.”
I smiled—not that he’d see my reaction. “Chose the guy who doesn’t like people to handle my best friend, huh?”
“To talk to the only person who knows why you have so much lace?Sí,” he said in a husky voice. Was that a request for me to tell him why, too?
“Well, um, I can assure you that she won’t talk his ear off about what’s in my dresser. She’ll just demand you protect me or else she’ll send her father’s security guards to do it.” I peeked back at him. “Her father’s rich. Old-money rich.” I focused on my mission of exploring what was inside, smiling at the fact he’d tossed in my perfume, along with a candy bar.
I wasn’t sure why the sight of both lifted my spirits so much with how high the stakes had been raised tonight, but sometimes the simple things in life were all you needed to push you back in the right direction of happiness.
“You found my secret candy stash I kept in my dresser.” Thankfully, I didn’t have a vibrator in there. If I had, and he’d packed it, I would have turned as red as a strawberry. “Thank you for packing my perfume and something sweet to eat, too.”
