Page 13 of After this Summer
“I’m on my way. And I’m bringing you home.”
“Tell me again later when I can appreciate you goin’ all caveman on me.”
“Noted but I need you to tell me again that you’re all right—that you’re both all right.”
“You can talk to the doctor when you get here if you don’t believe me.”
“I do, it’s just?—”
“I get it. I heard the heartbeat and it’s strong and perfect but I get it.”
“I’ll be on the road in thirty.”
“Please be safe. I used up all our worry today.” She yawns and I can picture her curling up in the hospital bed with the blanket fisted in her hand and tucked under her chin.
“Rest. I’ll be there soon.”
She says goodbye and disconnects the call, my phone hanging limply in my hand.
“Keys,” Harlan says, holding his hand out, and I nod as I fish them from my pocket with zero hesitation. There’s no way I can drive right now, and I’m thankful Harlan has my back. He hasn’t been in Wintervale long, but he’s already proven himself—he’sfamily.
“I need you guys to come with me.” I turn to look at Reid and Jesse. “ I was supposed to pack up her apartment this weekend. ”
“What about—” Lake starts but I shake my head.
“I need you and Pen to clear a spot in the barn and get my house ready. Put all my shit in the barn; I don’t care. I just want her to feel like she’s home.”
“So not the apartment,” Lake confirms.
“Fuck the apartment,” I snarl, watching my brother’s lips twitch.
“Your house then. We’ll take care of it,” Lake says, pressing his lips into a firm line, but I’m already ten steps ahead of him.It’s going to be a ton of work, but I need her here and safe andwith me.
I’ll deal with whatever shit she wants to throw my way about it and then I’ll make her come until she forgets why she’s mad.
Because whether she knows it or not, the game changed today and that makes Indie Kade mine…for as long as she’ll have me.
8
INDIE
“Itold you not to be mad,” I whisper, my lips curling up on one side as I let my eyelids flutter open. Beau’s hulking form takes up the entire doorway, but it’s not even his size—just hispresence.And I felt it, felt him, before I saw him.
“I’m not.” There’s a strange tone to his voice, and even though he’s mere feet from me, it’s too damn far.
I hold out my hand for him, and he crosses the tile floor and settles on the edge of the bed, bringing my knuckles to his lips as he presses a lingering kiss to them. The man is beautiful, even just wearing his light gray T-shirt under a black-and-white checkered flannel.
“I’m sorry,” I croak, as tears well in my eyes. “I was just trying to get things done.”
“I know,” he murmurs, leaning forward and slanting his mouth over mine. “We’re gonna take care of it, okay?”
“Why do I feel like that’s more than just you and me?”
“Because it is.”
“Beau.”
“Indie…” he drawls and I roll my eyes. “Harlan and Reid and Jesse. I need your keys,” he says, his eyes straying to where they left my purse.
