Page 55 of Pirate

Sophia frowned in concern.

“Did he take anything?” Jumper asked as he started walking to Pirate’s bedroom.

Sophia shook her head. “Not unless he did before he got home.”

It seemed like yet another thing Sophia should know. Was Pirate on any medications? Did he take anything daily for his leg or as needed?

Grabbing his prosthetic leg, pants, and boots, Sophia followed Jumper into Pirate’s bedroom. Dropping the items onto the chair in the corner of his room, Sophia crawled onto the bed opposite of where Jumper put Pirate down.

He still didn’t budge.

“Can you lift him so I can get his shirt off?” she asked Jumper.

Pirate’s brother helped her remove his polo shirt.

“Is this… Is this normal?” she asked him. “For him to pass out like this?” She didn’t like that she didn’t know the answer herself.

“He pushes himself too hard,” Jumper told her. “Thinks he has to do everything so I don’t have to. I’ve only seen him like this once before. Based on how awful his leg looks, I’m not surprised. Sleep is the best medication and all that. Just let him rest and come get me if you need me.”

Sophia looked up at Jumper in surprise. He said it like it was a given that she was stayingin Pirate’s bed.

Jumper raised an eyebrow. “I’m quiet, not deaf or blind. I’ve known what the two of you have been up to for months.”

Sophia’s jaw dropped open. “You have? Why didn’t you say anything?”

He nodded. “It’s not my business. The two of you are consenting adults.”

Sophia didn’t really know what to say to that. He wasn’t wrong, but still…

“Are you staying?” Jumper asked her.

Sophia nodded. She wasnotgoing back to her guesthouse tonight. The thing with her boots that morning had really freaked her out. She hadn’t mentioned anything to Pirate earlier because his leg had taken priority and then he’d fallen asleep.

Then she looked up at Jumper. “Can I talk to you?” She indicated outside of Pirate’s bedroom door.

Jumper nodded and then headed out of the room. Sophia pulled the blankets over Pirate’s nearly naked form before following him out. She closed the door behind her.

Jumper and Jazz’s door was closed, which probably meant Jasmine was inside changing for bed.

“Look, I’m not one to cry wolf,” Sophia started before Jumper could ask her why they were out in the hallway. “I also can admit when I’m wrong and being too stubborn. Last night, when I got home, I could swear someone wasinsidemy house with me.” Jumper’s eyebrows drew down as his face formed into a scowl. When he went to say something, Sophia held up her hand to stop him. “No, I did not call anyone. I searched upstairs and found no one, nor did I find any evidence that someone was there. I foolishly chalked it up to me being tired and stubbornly decided to brush it off. But I couldn’t shake it. All night, I stayed awakeconvincedthat someone was watching me. Then,” she took a deep breath, “this morning, when I went downstairs, I found my boots had been moved.”

“What do you mean ‘moved’?” Jumper demanded. He clearly was not happy about Sophia’s story.

“I mean, I took them off by the door last night and walked straight upstairs. I never walked around downstairs. Yet, when I went down this morning, my boots were over by my couch, lined up neatly by the edge.”

“Did you tell Pirate? Call him?”

Sophia shook her head. “No. I went to check on my mom and Enola. Both were fine and Mom said she didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary last night.”

Jasmine opened up the bedroom door. She was in a pair of lounge shorts and one of Jumper’s shirts. “I only heard part of that. You think someone was in your house last night?”

Unhappily, Sophia nodded. “I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.”

Jumper pulled out his phone and walked back into the hallway. He dialed a number and then raised it to his ear. “Keys. Someone was in Sophia’s house last night while she slept.” A pause. “No, she’s fine. Whoever it was didn’t make their presence known other than moving a pair of her boots. Can you check the cameras?”

Jasmine took Sophia’s hand as they watched Jumper make his phone call in silence. She squeezed her bestie’s hand.

Jumper turned to Sophia. “Was it just last night?”

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