Page 40 of Fractured Grief
I could hear Indy’s yawn through the phone.
“You should rest. We’ll talk t-tomorrow.” I didn’t want to end the conversation, but I could only imagine how tired Indy must be.
“Yeah, tomorrow. Sorry, I’m in bed. I’m all cozy and sleepy. I’m not the best conversationalist at the moment.”
Butterflies, again, at the thought of Indy lying out in bed, all warm and ready to be snuggled. I wondered what he wore to sleep. Pajamas, a t-shirt, nothing. My cock was responding.
“Seb, you still there?”
“Yeah, st-still here,” I stammered out. “Goodnight, Indy. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Night, Seb. I look forward to it.”
Chapter 20
Indy
Ending the call, I breathed a sigh of relief, hugging the phone to my chest.
Seb was willing to change PTs to be with me.
He’d asked me on a date.
OMG, I got asked on a date! I was going on a date with Seb!
I quickly pulled my pillow over my head and squealed with delight as emotions and excitement overwhelmed me. I couldn’t believe it.
I’d been honest, forthright, and bolder than I’d ever been in my life, and something had come of it. I was going to have my first real date. I’d finally had myrealfirst kiss. What other things were about to happen? What could happen next?
I’d been content and relaxed talking with Seb, but now that that was out of the way, I was bursting with anticipation and excess energy. The fact that he’d so readilyagreed to get a new PT and didn’t want to wait either made me feel giddy. I felt like a teenager with his first crush. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
I needed to calm down and get some sleep. My body was exhausted, but my mind was racing. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.
All I could think about was Seb. His touch, his soft smile, that expressive gaze that held me captive.What would it be like to have more than a chaste moment with him? What sort of date would we go on? What did he like to do before his injury? How would he continue to recover? Would things change between us? Was I risking everything for something that was doomed to fail? What about Hazel, Lexi?
Grief seared my heart as I thought of her. She would have been so excited for me. In many ways, it felt wrong to do this without Lex.
Glancing at the bedside table, I took in each of the little animal families. Each one clustered together, protecting each other. I wish I could have protected Lexi that day. I wish we’d all been together. Then, maybe I could have saved her. She should be here. She should have been able to see her daughter grow up. She, more than any of us, deserved to escape that town.
With a shaking hand, I reached for the lone fox body. His little tail still lay broken. “I miss you, Lex. Why aren’t you here with us?”
Of course, there was no answer. She was gone, and nothing I did would ever bring her back. I could picture herknowing smirk at my excitement. She’d know exactly what to say to lift my spirits and make me laugh.
Warmth filled me as I held the little fox to my chest and thought of how she would have tried to interrogate Seb when he’d come to pick me up for our date, how she’d try so hard to intimidate him with her tiny five-foot-seven frame. And she could do it. She could make the biggest man stammer and second-guess himself at her fiery presence. She would have liked Seb, but she wouldn't have let him know it, not until she was sure he was good enough for me.
I fell asleep to thoughts of my best friend defending my honor and the larger-than-life man who I was sure could have met her challenge.
CRASH!
I jolted awake, jumping out of bed and down the stairs as quickly as I could. Racing into the kitchen, I found Hazel on the floor trying to mop up cereal, milk, and a shattered bowl.
“I’m so sorry, Daddy! I was trying to be a big girl and get my own breakfast, but the milk was too heavy.” Big tears welled in her eyes as she looked at me.
“Hey. It’s okay. Careful,” I cautioned her to stop moving as I assessed the mess and ensured Hazel wouldn’t hurt her bare feet.
“Haze, it’s okay. Look at me, please. You were so good for trying to make your own breakfast. I’m so proud of you. This was an accident. It’s okay. But we need to be very careful with this broken bowl as those edges are sharp, okay?” I ensured I had her attention, and she was listening. “I need you to move away from the mess and over to me carefully, but you have to watch where you step. I don’t want you cutting your foot.” I carefully shuffled towards her, watching where we both stepped. When she was close, she jumped into my arms, and I shuffled back the way I’d come, murmuring reassurances to her as I went.
I took her into the living room and sat down on the couch with my girl cradled in my lap. “It’s okay, honey, you’re okay.” She cried into my shoulder, her little body shaking.
