It’s frustrating.
Dreams of things I don’t want to think about haunt me. I don’t like thinking about it, let alone reliving my past even subconsciously.
Gasping awake, I find myself alone in my hospital room. No one was there. No one could hurt me. Not again. I wasn’t going to let what happened my senior year in college get to me.
Nor was I going to let what’s happening with Maddox get me down. Cornbread Granddaddy would tell me to hike up my jeans, saddle up, and grab the reins. You can’t let the past define who you want to be. Be who you are. It’s the only way you get through this life. Work hard, prove your worth to no one but yourself.
God knows he’d be disappointed in me if he knew how little I think of my self-worth some days.
With a sigh, I go to reach for my phone to find it not on my bed next to my leg where I’d left it, but on the table, next to my purse. There are also two drinks and a carryout bag from The Hideaway. I’d seen the restaurant in town, but I’d never been there. Who’s been here?
Just as the thought slips through, the person in question steps into the room.
Shadow.
CHAPTER SIX
Shadow
I don’t know what the hell I was thinking coming back up here to the hospital. I should’ve left it be and gone on with what else I have to do. Instead, I took Maddox’s truck back to him, filled him in on his sister, got my bike, checked in with Lucifer, and went to The Hideaway, where I picked up dinner for Della and me.
I didn’t know what she liked, but I went with something easy and damn good. The Hideaway is another of the club’s businesses, though we’re only silent partners and still insist on paying. The menu has a variety of foods to pick from, and the owners pick a daily special. Today’s special was the fried BBQ chicken sandwich. It’s one of my favorite things to get from there. I figured I couldn’t go wrong ordering it for Della.
Getting to the hospital, I checked which room she’s in and made my way in that direction. I found her sleeping, the TV on a show, and her phone on the bed beside her, buzzing. Seeing it was Maddox’s name, I answered and told him that she was asleep, and I’d just gotten back up here.
I sat for a bit and got up to take a call of my own in the hall from Lucifer.
The moment I stepped back in the room, my eyes locked on Della’s.
“What are you doing here?” she demands, eyes narrowing.
“Brought you food. Didn’t think you’d want to eat the shit the hospital has here.”
Della eyes the bag from The Hideaway and looks ready to snatch it up, but she doesn’t.
“I didn’t know what you’d like, but they had the fried BBQ chicken sandwiches on special. Figured, can’t go wrong with that. I also got fries and bacon mac.”
Della’s face seems to soften as she perks up ever so slightly. “Bacon mac?”
“I take it you like that shit?” I never had it. I don’t eat mac and cheese. Ate enough of it as a kid. I’m good for a lifetime.
“It’s my favorite from The Hideaway,” she murmurs, a small smile plays at her lips.
Well, damn.
I saw her smiling and laughing the other night at Rodeo Roundup, but this was a different smile. A beautiful smile. Didn’t matter that she was playing shy.
“Well, you can have that, and I’ll eat the fries instead of sharing.”
“Sounds good,” she says.
I pull out the food, handing it to her, only to hear her stomach make a growling noise.
“Sorry,” she whispers, opens her food, sighing when she gets a whiff. “This smells so good.”
“You eat there before?”
“Once or twice.” She shrugs and lifts the container of mac to take a bite, only to moan. “God, this is the best thing ever.”
