Page 22 of Unexpected Heroine

Nodding in response, I stretch my arms over my head. It hurts, naturally, but it’s also soothing to move my body.

A couple of minutes later, my bladder is happier, my teeth and hair are brushed, and my vision is somewhat clear. Fortunately, his contact lenses aren’t far off from my prescription strength.

As we head for the kitchen, he offers me his hand, instinctually knowing I need his closeness.

We took turns using the restroom. He waited right outside the door for me again. I didn’t have to ask this time.

He just knew.

The last time I visited Stella in Georgia, she and I joked about how silly it was to be with someone who knows your body better than you do and yet be shy about bodily functions. I’ll sit on his face but not on the toilet in front of him. Pretty dumb, huh?

Oh! Stella.

And Freya.

Right before our feet hit the kitchen tile, I pulse James’s hand and blurt, “What about Stella?”

His face is blank as he assesses me, but then recognition dawns. “We’ll call her after breakfast. I don’t think she knew you were...” He swallows, then continues without finishing his sentence. “I’ll get you a new phone today. I don’t think you should keep the same number.”

“Stella’s probably worried, though. It’s not like me to be out of contact for...” My eyes flit to the ceiling. “What day is it again?”

“It’s Tuesday.”

Although my memories are fuzzy, I think we talked about how long I was gone at some point last night. “Feels like I was there longer than three days.”

His face is solemn but deep with understanding. “Let’s get some breakfast, and we’ll make a plan for the day.”

“Don’t you need to work? For that matter, do you even have a job after what happened last night? Was that your boss who was pissed at you? He seemed furious.” My jaw snaps shut, and my eyes search the ceiling. “Or I think he was. Was he?”

Fucking fuzzy memories are pissing me off.

He brought me to where he worked, right?

He caresses my cheek and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “I still have a job. But I’m taking the week off. I already texted Boss to tell him.”

Time off and James. These things go together like oil and water.

A whole week, no less? This is unheard of.

Someone alert the press.

Heh. They didn’t take all my sense of humor from me. Those bastards.

I let my cheeks puff up with air, miming that I’m physically holding back my words.

James slants his head to the side and raises his brows, encouraging me to speak.

Dramatically, I let all the air sputter out of my mouth. “Do you know how hard it is not to make a snarky comment right now?”

He grins, then kisses the tip of my nose while leading me into the kitchen. “Go ahead. You’re allowed one snark.”

My head lolls around my shoulders, and I purse my lips. “If I had known all I had to do was get abducted in order for you to take time off, I’d have done it sooner.”

Shaking his head overzealously, he rolls his eyes. With a groan, he wraps me in his embrace, pulling me flush to his warm chest. “Don’t fucking joke about that.”

“You said I was allowed one snark,” I mumble into his shirt.

“Permission rescinded. No more snarks if you’re gonna joke about that shit.”

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