Page 34 of Backed By You
Irrational worry slices through me.She’s probably just busy taking care of Hulk.
The guys agree to the impromptu supply run for the girls, and I find myself at the head of the pack. A part of me is saying,I need to see her.
If my brothers are right, then I’m heading straight into a war zone.
And I’d gladly walk into war for her.
Thirteen.
Callie
“Butyou’reokay?AndHulk, he’s okay, too?” Shea asks for the second time.
I hold the phone pinned between my cheek and shoulder as I shuffle to Hulk’s bed, fresh water and his packed food bowls in hand. “We’re okay,” I reply. “I’m giving him his dinner now and nightly pain meds shortly. He’ll be zonked out within the hour.”
“Jesus, Cals,” she breathes. “You can’t scare me like that. I almost called your dad.”
I snort, recalling the phone conversation I had with him shortly before I called her. Long story short, it was an earful. “I’m glad you didn’t. He probably would’ve shown up here.”
“Can you blame him?”
I sit on the floor beside Hulk, removing his cone so he can eat. “I guess not.”
“She guesses not,” Shea scoffs on the other end of the phone. “Thank god Brian was there to help you.”
“Beau.” I laugh. “His name isBeau. And don’t act like you don’t remember. Call him nice-chest-guy if you must.”
She snickers. “I was hoping you’d catch that,” she says. “So, explain to me what happened after he took you home.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “He offered to stay the night so I wasn’t alone.” At the sound of her squeal, I add, “Nothing happened. We just talked and he kept my mind off everything, really.”
“And?” she coaxes.
“And it was…nice.” I don’t elaborate or tell her how he asked if I had a boyfriend, doted on me, and even rubbed my feet when the boot started to pinch my leg.
“Hmm. I’m going to need more context here. Where did he sleep?”
I scrunch my nose. “The couch.”
“And you were…”
“Also, on the couch.”
“I knew it!” she sings, laughing in delight. “Oh, my god. Icannotwait to meet this guy. We’ll have to plan something, the three of us. What time do you fly in again? I’ll need to meet you—”
“Wait, huh?” My brow furrows, confused. “What are you talking about?”
“The premiere,” she says. “He did say he’d come with you, didn’t he?”
I don’t follow. “Why would he come to the—” I gasp, realization dawning on me as my gaze snaps to Hulk’s. “Oh, no.” I fly in for the premiere in only three weeks. Hulk won’t be able to travel in that short of time. He needs to rest and heal. Which means he won’t be able to go with me to LA.
I’ll be without him fortwo whole weeks.
“I thought that’s what you were talking about,” she says. “Why don’t you ask him? I doubt he’d say no. I mean, have youseenyourself? And you said he offered in the first place.”
“Yeah, but…” My eyes begin to water at the very idea of having to leave Hulk. I was without him for one night and it was awful. Well, notawfulwith Beau around, but I missed him like crazy.
“You can’t miss the premiere. It’s the final chapter.”
