Page 213 of His White Moonlight
“I love you, too, Sweetheart.You can call me in the middle of the night too.”
“I know.But Grandma was closer.”
She jerked a little and withdrew to glare at Bennett.
“We’ll change that today.”
I both sighed and laughed at the growl in her voice.
“Mom, it’s actually kind of nice only having to deal with Bennett’s overprotectiveness.I think all of you at once would be a bit much for me.And I know that’s what would happen.My track record for safety hasn’t been the best.”I held up my stitched arm.
She opened her mouth.
“Before you say anything, I know you only left because Bennett wanted it.I know you love me and want to be here.And I promise I won’t step outside this door without an escort capable of keeping me safe.”
She sighed and gave me another quick hug.
“I hate that you know me better than I know you.”
“That’s an easy fix.Typing will be impossible for me for a while, which means I can’t go to work.How do you feel about a Mom and Wrenly day tomorrow?”I glanced at Grandma.“You’re welcome too, of course.”
“What about me?”Dad asked.
“Someone needs to run the company and stop Bennett from throwing things when Wrenly’s not there,” Mom said.
Bennett snorted, and I grinned with Grandma.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Bennett wasquiet as he drove us into the city.Not a moody quiet, just quiet.He’d been attentive and helpful this morning as I got ready, going so far as to brush my hair and pull it back into a ponytail.I’d pretended not to notice the way his fingers had brushed my neck before he’d stepped away.Just like I was pretending not to notice his nervous energy.
He didn’t need to say he was worried.I already knew it.What I didn’t know was if he’d let his fear that somethingmighthappen stop me from spending the day with Mom.
How was today any different than when I’d gone shopping with Miranda?Was it really just because of the stitches, or was there something else going on?
He pulled into his usual spot in the parking garage and cut the engine.But instead of getting out, he turned to me.
“Can I ask you a question?”he asked.
“Sure.”
“When Dad and I were fighting, why did you run?You would have been safer if you had stayed close to us.”
The direction of his thoughts and the curious concern with which he’d asked surprised me.
“I knew I couldn’t stay,” I said honestly.“They would have used me to distract you to hurt you, which would have distracted Dad.No matter what I chose, I was going to be hurt.By leaving, I ensured you would fight harder to win faster to get to me.Your focus kept you safe.And you being safe kept Dad and his position in the pack safe so that I wouldn’t be killed on the spot.”
“Is that why you said you’d get hurt Saturday before we even went there?You were sure that was going to happen and still went?”
I gave a half-hearted shrug.“Once you know a person’s personality and their goals, it’s not too hard to anticipate their next move.”
He closed his eyes for a second.
“Hey, it’s fine,” I said, noticing his tremble.
“What do you see happening next?”
“Well, either you calm down so we can walk into work, or you turn into the Furminator and wreck the inside of your beautiful car and possibly me if I don’t get out the door fast enough.I’m leaning toward the former by a ninety-to-ten percent probability.”
