Page 185 of His White Moonlight
“I do.”
“Okay.Then I will.”I considered her for a second.“I don’t hate him.Not for any of it.I’m mad, but I can understand too.None of it was intentional, but intent doesn’t undo the damage or my need to make my own choices.If something bad happens, I want it to be because of the decisions I made, not because of what someone else arranged for me.”
“I understand.What are your plans for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t think we have any.”
“Could we try a family dinner again?”
“Sure.”
She smiled and patted my hand.
* * *
The spotbeside me was still warm when I checked.Five days had passed since I woke up in the hospital, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I was bruise-free.
While I appreciated the reprieve, it also showed the level of boredom the last five days had been.Eat, sleep, and work—that was it—all under Bennett’s very protective presence.Except for the few times he let Miranda take over.Like when I went to the bathroom at work and a very brief lunch meetup with Sophia.
Restlessness was a real problem with me when life got too quiet.It always felt like the lull before the storm, and I hated it.
I glanced at my open bedroom door.
“What’s your schedule like this morning?”I called.
He appeared in my doorway a second later, wearing loose shorts as he towel-dried his wet hair.
“An acquisition call at eight and a partner meeting at eleven.Why?”
“I think I’ll drive in later on my own.”
He stopped towel-drying his hair and sat on the edge of the bed, facing me.
“We’ve been cutting off the Shanes each time they grab a lifeline.Their desperation makes me nervous that they’ll try something.I’d prefer you stay close to me, Mom and Dad, or Miranda.”
While I appreciated that he didn’t just say no, I wasn’t a fan of his non-no either.
“I want to go for a run.”
“What if you bring your running clothes to work and run with Miranda while I’m at the partner meeting?”
“At what point in my slacking off do you think the rest of the office will mutiny?I took a three-hour nap on Monday, and now I’m going to go for a run during work hours.The week before that, I was out too.”
“If they haven’t mutinied yet over my behavior, they shouldn’t over yours either.”
“Completely different standards, but okay.I’ll take a work-run with Miranda.”
“Thank you.”He didn’t leave.
“Is there something else?”
“There’s a pack run tomorrow night.I’d like you to go.With me.”
“So you can say I’m your mate in front of everyone?No thanks.”
“The news has already spread.I’d like you to go so everyone understands you’re under our protection even more now.”
“I don’t think it’s going to work like you think it will, but okay.I’ll go under one condition.”
