Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Since I had her on speaker, I noted that Bodhi pressed his lips together tight in an effort to say nothing.
“Thank God for your partner.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“Is that sarcasm? Because he keeps excellent tabs on you. I’m very appreciative that you have him in your life.”
“He’s a saint, that one.”
At the next red light, Bodhi pinched my leg so hard, I almost screamed. I hated it when he did that, and he was so lucky I was on the phone with my sister or I would have punched him. Not that it would have been easy with him in the driver’s seat and my left arm out of commission. Plus, I’d have to turn fast and hit him, and that would not be easy since I wasn’t at full strength at the moment.
“He is!” she assured me. “And not only is he kind and thoughtful, but he’s very easy on the eyes, Jed.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
I moaned like I was dying, and Bodhi waggled his eyebrows at me.
“You will call me as soon as you get home from vacation, and if you need—”
“How did you know I was going on vacation?”
“Bodhi told me,” she said, sounding annoyed. “Now listen, if you need me, call and I’ll be there. I love you dearly, and so help you God if you do not show up here for Christmas!” she finished with a snarl.
“I’ll be there,” I said, chuckling.
“Everyone misses you,” she said, her voice trembling suddenly, deflating—I knew—with relief. I’d known her all her life, could read her like a book. Losing me was not something she could do. Her husband and kids were her touchstones now, but I was the original, and she would need me for the rest of her life. I was the same. “And I just… You know I can’t… Jed.” Her breath caught, and she stopped speaking.
“I know,” I soothed her, feeling like absolute crap. “I had a moment of heroism. I promise you it’s passed.”
She laughed softly, and I was betting it was through tears. “No. That’s not you. You have to save everyone you can. It’s how you were made.”
I grunted.
“You were. You kept me safe after Mom left until Aunt Roz showed up.”
And I had. There were scars on my body from my father to prove it.
“You’re the only one who—who knows all the stories.”
I swallowed hard, looking out the window so Bodhi couldn’t see me tear up.
Before our mother left, my father had knocked her around, and when I could, I put myself between them. After she abandoned us, his alcoholic rages focused on me. Occasionally, he had looked to Lisa, but I made certain, by whatever means necessary, that his attention refocused on me. She was my baby sister; I could not let her get hurt.
“You’re the one person on the planet who never asks questions when I can’t do certain things. You know all my triggers, so just…take it easy, all right?” She yelled the last part.
“I will do my best.”
“And Christmas, yeah?”
“I promise to be there.”
“I’m doing a rustic theme this year. So much burlap, you’re gonna be impressed.”
“Or vomit,” I teased her.
“Lots of rusted stars and fairy lights.”
“Oh God,” I muttered, just imagining the horror.
From her laughter, I could only assume she found my reticence hysterical.
“I love you, Lise.”
“I love you back,” she said with a sigh. “And listen to Bodhi, will you?”
“I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.”
“Well, try. And bring him for Christmas if you can.”
“He’s gettin’ married in September. He ain’t got time for us.”
She just hmphed like she didn’t believe me.
“Give everyone a squeeze for me,” I told her.
“Even Reid?”
I groaned, she cackled, said again she loved me, and hung up.
“What’s wrong with Reid?” Bodhi asked me after several minutes of silence.
I squinted at him. “You’ve met Reid. He’s annoying as shit.”
“He’s just very political, is all.”
“Oh yeah, that’s it.”
He laughed and made the turn into the long-term airport parking.
“You know—”
“Just shut up already,” he ordered. “And play nice, or you’re not getting any of your pain meds.”
“You need to give me those. I might need one during the night, and I’m not above walking in on you and Hayden when you’re gettin’ your freak on.”
He snorted. “In a house with his parents?”
“I thought the house was big.”
“It is, but still.”
I stared at his profile. “Are you kidding? Since when don’t you take any moment to screw? Is something wrong? Do you need to see someone? Have a talk?”
“Funny,” he grumbled. “So fuckin’ funny.”
“One tries,” I baited him.
On the tarmac, walking toward the plane, I saw Hayden waiting at the bottom of the stairs that folded up into the side. As usual, two things popped into my head. One, that he was perfect in every way, and two, that he made me think of money. He looked like what you’d conjure in your mind if someone said rich son of a corporate lawyer who followed in his father’s footsteps. The sports coat over the polo, the slacks and dress shoes, were a lot for a relaxing weekend at home. Short, thick brown hair, dark-blue eyes, perfectly sculpted features, built like a swimmer or a polo player—the latter being a game he participated in—and of course, a dazzling smile, courtesy, I was guessing, of braces early in life and now veneers. And while other men who looked like they’d walked out of the pages of Town & Country didn’t annoy me, because he possessed what I wanted more than anything, namely Bodhi’s heart, everything about him made me bristle with frustration and hatred.