Page 240 of Icy Cold Death

Bodhi was incredibly tense, but he knew he had to answer him.

“Not angry, per se, but scared. You terrify me, Jake. You threw Hailey like she was a rag doll when she tried to stop you from hurting me.”

There was silence.

“I. AM. SORRY. IT. IS. DIFFICULT. BEING. DEAD. I. HAD. TO. COME. BACK.”

He understood.

And said nothing.

“DO. YOU. WANT. ME. TO. GO?” Jake asked. “I. CAN. JUST. NOT. SHOW. UP. WHEN. YOU. ARE. HERE.”

Bodhi thought about it as he was watching Hailey talk to their wedding planner.

“No. I just don’t want us hurt. You can kill us, Jake. I’ve just found her, but there should be boundaries.”

“LIKE?”

He went there.

“Like not in our bedroom. Hailey and I deserve a life, and it weirds me out thinking you are watching.”

The phone chirped.

“YOU. HAVE. GOOD. FORM.”

Jesus.

“And that was what I’m talking about. That’s something two dudes should NOT be discussing about a woman they both love.”

The phone was quiet.

Then, it started back up.

“WHAT. IF. I. PROMISE. TO. NOT. GET. ANGRY. AND. NOT. WATCH. YOU. SEXING. UP. MY. WIFE?”

Bodhi was more than happy to have the man leave, but he wasn’t sure how Hailey or Holly would feel about that. They loved Jake.

“I think that if you respect our boundaries, you can stay. If you let me live this life and enjoy Hailey, I can overlook the fact that you’re still here.”

“YOU. WANT. ME. TO. GO?”

He didn’t lie.

“Yes, because she’s mine now, and I’ll protect her, but this isn’t about me. Hailey loves you, and she has to make that decision.”

The radio stayed silent.

Then, Jake made up his mind.

“I. WILL. GIVE. YOU. GUYS. SPACE. YOU. ARE. RIGHT.”

He appreciated that.

“When she’s working, by all means be there for her to keep her safe for us, or when Holly is around, come see your child grow up. When Hailey and I are alone, that’s when I want the boundaries. On holidays, we can all be a family.”

“THAT. SOUNDS. FAIR.”

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