Page 25 of Calla's Boys

“Sure, you do,” I retort sarcastically.

Billy and Doc snort as Clyde moves in sight of the door and gives me the finger.

We all have our differences, but we’re still friends. The main thing we have in common now is Calla.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Calla

Every part of me aches. I can hear my boys talking from the other room, but I don’t move. I’m comfortable, despite my complaining muscles, and content to just listen to them for now.

I vaguely catch them saying something about going out and exploring. I smile tiredly and close my eyes again as exhaustion takes over my body.

I wake sometime later and stretch out my stiff limbs to try and loosen them. My foot presses against something warm, and I open my eyes to see Doc sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Hi,” I say groggily, smiling up at him.

“Hey, Calla. How do you feel about going out for a walk with all of us?”

I stretch again and moan a little as my body protests against the movement.

“I think a walk will do me some good. Get this stiffness out of me.”

Doc smirks and winks. “No chance of that happening; we’ll put thestiffnessright back into you.”

I roll my eyes and poke him with my foot as I chuckle. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“I’ll let the others know while you get dressed. As much as we would love for you to come out just like that—I can’t believe I’m saying this—clothes would be better.”

Laughing, I go to jab him again with my foot, but he hops up before I can and grabs it in his hand. I wiggle, trying to get free, and the sheet slips off my body.

His eyes darken a little as he looks at me. Closing them, he takes a deep breath, brushes his hand backward through his hair, and then groans.

“Get dressed, Calla,” he says, tearing his gaze away the moment he opens them. My lips curve into a smile as I watch him leave, and warmth fills my belly at how Doc reacts visibly as strongly toward me as I do for him… for all of them.

I moan a little as I force myself to move. My body feels like it’s been through a wringer, and I suppose in a way it has been. Hobbling slightly as discomfort settles in, I head toward the bathroom, intent on having a shower.

When I see the bath that’s set into one corner of the bathroom, I pause. Looking between the bath and the shower, I decide to draw up a bath instead.

I put in the stopper and get the water running. Spotting a small bottle and a container of complementary bath salts and bubble bath, I dump both into the hot water.

I know the boys are keen to get out and explore, but it’s not going to be much fun if I’m so sore that I can’t keep up with them.

The high pressure of the water means the tub fills up quickly with water and bubbles. As I lower myself into the water, the heat and salts instantly begin to soothe away the ache in my muscles.

Sighing with relief, I submerge myself beneath the layer of bubbles sitting on top of the water, and I close my eyes for a moment.

As I tell myself I won’t spend too long soaking, I find it harder to get myself moving the longer I lie there. The second I feel the tiredness begin to take hold, I force myself to sit up. Safety 101, don’t fall asleep in the bath—I don’t want to keep my boys waiting, either.

Quickly scrubbing myself clean, I then wash my hair and reluctantly get out of the bathtub and pull the plug.

It drains away slowly while I dry myself off, and by time I’m done and have grabbed a fresh set of clothes, it’s empty.

I give it a quick rinse and hang up the bath towel. Running a brush through my hair, I tie it in a loose ponytail and leave the room.

I jolt in surprise to see all four boys sitting or standing in the room, clearly waiting for me to finish.

“You took your time,” Jesse teases.

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