Page 47 of Broken Bodyguard

His brows shot up. “Done. Let’s go, babe.”

I laughed into my palm. “I didn’t want to force myself onto your plans…”

“You’re not forcing anything. I want this too. And when you come visit, then we can see how you feel about staying longer than just spring break.” He winked at me before pressing a kiss to my knuckles, then he finally leaned back and flagged the server. “Now it’s time to order.”

Two days later, I found myself in the middle of Tribeca.

In Seven’s apartment. AKA Troy’s current home.

Looking around at the exposed brick and the stripper pole and the leather couches feeling like I was back at that Christmas party from three months ago.

Life had certainly changed since then, and only for the better. Three months ago, I was terrified of Jericho. Wondering if I’d ever find my way. Now, I was enjoying life in a way I never imagined possible. Even amid the routine and the responsibilities, I felt a freedom I’d never had before.

Maybe it had always been there, even if it had been restricted by my relationship with Jericho. But Troy certainly helped me tap into it.

Troy wrapped an arm around me, pressing his lips to my temple. Grace was in his arms, fiddling with his beard.

“How’s it feel to be back?”

We’d just arrived to the city after breaking up the long car ride into two days with a stopover in Pennsylvania. I was brimming with excitement. Everything about New York City felt alive and fresh. Not to mention my best friend and former sister-in-law, Mercedes, was here. Our plan was to simply settle in this first evening. I hadn’t even texted Mercedes yet.

“So amazing.” I let out an incredulous laugh and flitted to the big windows overlooking the street. I stared down at the cars and the activity below. My heart thudded in my chest as I imagined all the things I’d like to do during the trip. “I don’t even know where to begin with my to-do list. We only have a week here?”

“Unless you decide to make it longer.” Troy winked at me. Ranger meowed, annoyed, from the far edge of the apartment. We’d already fed him, but he still seemed to regard me and Grace with suspicion. “Ranger, what’s your deal?”

“I think he doesn’t like us being here,” I teased. I used the tried and trueps-ps-psand held out my fingers but Ranger didn’t budge. He actually seemed to glare at me as he prowled closer to Troy. I didn’t even know cats could glare. “I think he’s jealous.”

“Ranger, stop. You know you’re my number one street cat.” Troy wandered toward the stripper pole and Ranger followed. “You’re gonna have to get used to Maddie being here, ya old man. She’ll be staying after spring break, won’t she?”

“If I could commute. Though the commute would kill me,” I murmured as I dragged my finger along the wooden frame of the window. “Not to mention a physical impossibility.”

“That’s why you ditch the commute and just stay.” Troy and Grace had migrated over to the pole, where they’d made a game out of her grabbing for the pole and him pulling her away just before she caught it. She was shrieking with laughter after several failed latch attempts.

“What’s this game called?” I asked over the laughter.

“Twisty Stripper,” Troy joked.

“Twisty Tipper!” Grace echoed.

He and I shared a stunned look, then we both burst out into laughter. “I’ll be sure to tell Jordan about the new game named in her honor.” I sank into the couch, expelling a happy sigh. We had just under a week ahead of us. I looked forward to exploring the city with Grace and spending time with Mercedes and her family while Troy worked. And then…back to real life.

That was the part I wasn’t looking forward to.

I wanted real life to feel like the thing I looked forward to. My entire marriage to Jericho had felt like one long dread spiral. I always dreaded him coming home. Dreaded our vacations. Dreaded making him upset.

That wouldn’t be the case with Troy. But we needed a day-to-day to look forward to. Not just the fringes of our separate existences.

A knock on the front door interrupted my thoughts. I twisted to look at the door, then over at Troy, who had Grace mid-air on her way to the pole.

“Are you expecting anyone?” I asked before hopping to my feet.

“No, but knowing the Fairchild crew, it could be any one of them behind that door. Or all of them.”

I laughed, checking my phone on my way. Nothing from Mercedes. As I neared the door, I heard the undertones of voices. Maybe it was Mercedes and Trace. But those booming undertones didn’t sound like her…I peered through the peephole, seeing the backs of a few broad-shouldered men. I frowned, looking back at Troy, who picked up on my concern.

“I’m coming.” He carried Grace in his arms in the plane position. She shrieked with laughter, holding out her arms as she zoomed along with him. He peered through the peephole first too, then pulled open the door. “Well my god…”

The amusement in his voice calmed me. The door swung open, revealing some familiar faces. Trace, with Willow in his arms, and Seven stood before us; Mercedes poked her head out from behind Trace next. Next to Seven there was an unfamiliar face, but his icy blue eyes reminded me of someone I’d seen a time or two on video chats.

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