“You are more of a badass than you give yourself credit for, but I will tie you to the fucking bed if you decide you want to do something like this again.” I glance over at her and see a small smile on her pretty face. She looks exhausted, but she also looks like the weight of the world is off her shoulders.
She scoots as close as she can to the center console before leaning her head on my shoulder, content to ride the forty minutes home in silent, safe company.
Pulling into her driveway, I didn’t even realize this is where I drove us. It’s where she feels the most comfortable. It’s where I feel like home too, so it was a no-brainer.
“Alright, we’re here,” I murmur, not sure if she fell asleep or not.
She jolts up, looking around to get her bearings before her shoulders drop in relief. I climb out of the truck, walking around to open the door for her to find she’s already out and walking to her front door. She opens it, still not saying anything, and I follow her as she walks back to her bedroom.
Without changing her clothes or stripping down to just her underwear, she collapses face first onto her bed.
“What the actual fuck just happened?” The comforter muffles her words, and I have to laugh at her response to this whole day. Only Rina wouldn’t be completely freaking out. I’m sure she’s shaken by what happened, but it’s not breaking her. She isn’t letting it take over her life or her happiness. And even if she does, if she has a moment where she needs to break, I’ll be right by her side through it all, piecing her back together.
“What can I do?” Helplessness is still prevalent in my chest. I hope she’ll tell me when or if she needs anything because right now, I’m not sure what to do to make things better.
“Ugh,” she groans and moves her head to the side so I can hear her. “Food, probably a shower, and sleep. I’m open to the order of those, though.”
I smile at her, amazed that she’s mine. It’s been a hard day, and somehow just being here with her, doing mundane shit like figuring out dinner, makes me so damn happy.
“I’ll work on dinner if you just want to stay here and rest,” I offer.
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll lie here for a few minutes then help you,” she mumbles, then turns her head into the mattress again.
Walking closer to the bed, I intertwine my fingers in her hair, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head before whispering, “I’ll handle it. Just relax.”
I’m going to have to call in a couple of favors, but it’s worth it if I don’t have to leave Rina right now. Pulling out my phone, I call Sal’s diner.
“Sal’s, how can I help you?” Kelly answers on the second ring.
“Hey, Kelly, it’s Arlo. I was hoping you could help me. I need to see if someone can bring some food over to Rina’s house. Is Jim or any of the Huttons there by chance?”
Kelly chuckles into the receiver. “Oh, man, I love that this is happening. Do you both want your usual?”
“That’s perfect.” I don’t acknowledge her other statement.
“Let me put you on hold while I put this in really fast.” I hear the click of her doing just that, and I hear a truck pulling into the driveway at the same time. Heading out to make sure it’s who I think it is, I see Oakley climbing out just as Willow pulls in behind him to pick him up. I wave my thanks to them both as he quickly jumps in, leaning over to kiss her before she pulls out and they disappear as quickly as they came.
“Well, well, well, Sheriff. I hear you are in need of some food delivery,” Old Man Walters says over the phone.
“Yes, sir, I am. Are there any Huttons, or perhaps Jim is there?” I ask again, praying someone has a car that can help me.
“There are, but I’ll be helping you out today, son.”
“I appreciate that, but I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense. You’re at Miss Rina’s place?”
“We are.” It’s easier not to fight him. I learned a long time ago, when I took over for him as sheriff, that he’s as stubborn as they come and he will always get what he wants.
“Great. Looks like your food will be up soon, then I’ll head that way. And Arlo?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I’m glad you finally grew half a brain and went after that girl again.”
I freeze in place, rendered speechless by his words as he hangs up on me. I’m not sure if Rina and I were really not that sneaky back in the day,or if it was just his nature as sheriff to know everything that goes on in this town. Either way, he somehow knew of our history and managed to keep it to himself all these years. I’m grateful, but knowing how much time I wasted still kills me inside.
The rocking chairs on Rina’s front porch are too inviting, and I want to give her some time to decompress without any pressure, so I sit in one as I wait for Old Man Walters to deliver our dinner.
