Page 104 of The Kidnapped

“You made the right decision,” she replied, calming down enough to deliver the message. “You’ve saved Mom and me from having to testify. So, that’s one good thing, at least.”

“Yeah, I guess,” he said.

Then, he was gone.

“Are you okay?” Raleigh asked.

Hollis dropped the phone beside her, placed her head on Raleigh’s shoulder, and said, “Rocky Road or plain vanilla?”

“How about I mix them together and we have a little of both?” Raleigh suggested, kissing her forehead.

“That sounds amazing,” she replied.

CHAPTER 33

“So, how are you?” Raleigh asked.

“That’s about the tenth time you’ve asked me that since we left the house.”

“No, I think it’s ten times in total. I asked you at least three times last night over ice cream and once before bed. Then, I asked in the middle of the night when I rolled over and noticed you were still awake. I think I asked once or twice before you went to work, and then a few times since you got home, but it hasn’t been ten times since we left the house.”

Hollis laughed, took Raleigh’s hand, and moved it to her lap, entwining their fingers.

“I’m sorry. I just haven’t figured out how I am yet, so I don’t know that I have much to update you on.” She glanced out the side window. “How are you, though?”

“Can I just tell you that I cannot wait until we’re just driving down a street because we’re, I don’t know, going to the grocery store or out to eat or something, so that when we ask these kinds of questions, we’re just asking about how our days were at work and not how we’re both dealing with all of this other stuff?”

“Yes, you can tell me that,” Hollis teased and brought Raleigh’s hand to her lips to kiss.

“And I want to have sex, Hollis,” Raleigh stated as she turned the car into the parking lot and parked.

“What?” Hollis laughed, surprised. “We have sex, Raleigh,” she added once Raleigh turned off the car.

“I know. But we’re not in that having-sex-constantly phase that new couples usually get to have.”

“Oh,” Hollis let out.

Raleigh turned to her and said, “I’m not–”

“No, it’s okay. I get it.”

“Hollis,” Raleigh began to explain. “I just mean that I really, really love our sex. You can tell how much: it’s an embarrassing amount of love for the sex we have. We had to clean the sheets because of it.”

Hollis laughed again.

“But babe, we’re–”

“Having sex in the guest room at my mom’s house?”

“Yes. And don’t get me wrong; I’m not complaining. I love your mom. She’s amazing, and she needs you. And I will have sex with you anywhere.”

“But we’re not able to do it as often or as loudly, if we’re being honest,” Hollis added, winking at Raleigh.

“Can you stay over at my place tonight?” Raleigh asked.

“So that we can have loud, marathon sex?”

“Yes. And it would also be nice for me to be home for the night, but I understand if you can’t. I just need to get some stuff from my office, and I can–”

---