Page 58 of Fractured Hope
“That tickles,” he whispered.
“I love you, Bodhi,” I said and breathed him in, thankful he was here with me.
“I love you, too.” He clutched my hand over his chest as we both fell asleep.
When I woke it was completely dark. I could only just make out Bodhi’s sleeping face as he lay on his back next to me, stillholding my hand to his chest. I was groggy from the pain pills, but I was also starving. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had real food. They’d given me something at the hospital, but it was gross, and I was in too much pain to care about food at that point. I carefully shifted onto my back so I could reach my phone on the bedside table to check the time.
“You shouldn’t be looking at screens yet. Let me do whatever it is you need.” Bodhi’s voice broke the silence.
Smiling at him, I handed him my phone. “I was just checking the time.”
“It’s later than I expected. It’s almost eight o’clock. I would have thought your mom would have been here by now.”
“Hmm, me too. Maybe Max or Theo were able tohold her off.”
“Oh wait, there’s a text from her.” Bodhi passed me the phone so I could unlock it, then opened the text thread. “It says she left a picnic basket of food at the door for us and will be here in the morning to visit. Aww, that’s sweet. I’ll go get it!”
Bodhi jumped out of bed, walking boot and all, and shuffled to the front door. I moved a lot slower, allowing my body to adjust to being upright again as I walked into the kitchen. Bodhi placed the large basket on the kitchen counter before going back to relock the door. He returned and started going through all the offerings Mama had packed. There were all the fixings for sandwiches as well as an extra-large thermos. Bodhi took the lid off to see what was inside and the heavenly aroma of Mama’s homemade vegetable soup filled the room. I nearly salivated as my stomach growled.
“It’s Mama’s Healing soup. Just what the doctor ordered.” I chuckled at the thought of thefamily lawthat went along with this soup. “You’re in for a treat. I swear this soup has real healing powers.”
“Sounds perfect, then.” Bodhi smiled at me before putting the sandwich fixings into the fridge and quickly went about finding bowls and serving the steaming soup.
We ate in relative silence, both quickly realizing how hungry we were when the food was in front of us. I soaked up the last of my soup with the bread that Mama had also tucked into the basket.
“Do you think they’ll find him? What do you suppose will happen next?” Bodhi was looking thoughtfully into his empty bowl as if it held all the answers.
“I’m not sure. Max has his team on the lookout. And most of the town probably knows by now. He won’t be able to hide for long, you’ll see.”
“I guess,” he said.
“Have you had enough to eat? Let’s go back to bed. You still look tired.”
“I should be telling you to rest.” Bodhi raised an eyebrow at me before deflating. “But yes, you’re right. Let’s go back to bed.”
I offered him my hand, and he took it as we headed to the bedroom—together.
27
BODHI
Most of thenext week was uneventful and much the same.
It seemed Derek was lying low someplace because there’d been no sightings or any further incidents. Atticus and I holed up in Max’s guest house while he recovered and rested. He was doing much better but still got headaches and tired quickly.
Seb helped me keep on top of my work by bringing me a laptop and recent paperwork every couple of days. Atticus wasn’t allowed to return to the garage for another few days, and I could tell the inactivity was wearing on him. He wasn’t one to sit around doing nothing.
Even though there was still no sign of Derek, I was on edge. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. That he was planning something, and things were going to go from bad to worse. Max and his team had concluded he must be staying in another town, and that he was waiting for the initial heat to die down before trying anything else. I shuddered at the thought.
Atticus came into the living room wrapped in a towel, still wet from his shower. All other thoughts flew out the window as Iwatched him from my place on the small sofa. He was a sight to behold with his chiseled abs and defined pecs, covered in a light smattering of hair. I all but drooled as I followed a water droplet with my gaze while it made its way down the deep vee next to his happy trail, disappearing into the towel.
“See something you like?” Atticus smirked as he caught me staring.
“Very much.” I grinned right back.
He made his way over to me and stood behind the sofa. He was tall when I was standing, but from my seated position, he was an Adonis. My face was perfectly in line with the towel. I gazed up at him as I ran my hands up his sides and over his abs, lightly teasing as I went.
“I can think of a better view.” I bit my lower lip and pulled on the towel. It pooled at his feet as he ran his large hand over my cheek and into my hair, tugging gently.
