“Hey, it’s okay. Maybe we should just share our locations all the time.”
“Is that weird?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think so. I won’t use it to stalk you.”
She barked out a laugh. “I’d tell you where I was going if I headed out, anyway. It’s not like you wouldn’t know where I was already.”
“True. And I’ll tell you. Of course, if I’m on a mission…”
He trailed off, and she wondered if he was worrying about the fact that he might never go on another mission. She wasn’t sure how to make him feel good again. He’d been trying to fall out of the funk he was in, but something like what he’d experienced would take time. Healing from the trauma would take months. Sometimes, having that amount of time in front of you made it seem insurmountable.
“I understand. If you’re going out on something like that, I wouldn’t expect you to have tracking on.”
“Do you feel better now? Like maybe you’re not being followed?” Andy asked.
She took a moment, glancing in the mirrors and checking out who was behind her. If she was in another city, somewhere less busy, she might be able to pick out someone following her, but Southern California was packed with people. She wasn’t sure if one of the cars was tailing her or if it was just random people.
“I don’t know.”
“I’m here at home. I mean, of course, I am. I haven’t gone anywhere other than physical therapy.”
“I know it’s frustrating.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m okay. I can get through this.”
“I know you can. You’re strong and responsible. You’ll come out on the other side.”
He grunted, and she wondered what he was doing. Then she heard a pan clank. She knew he had to keep busy, but she didn’t want him doing too much.
“You aren’t making food, are you?”
“I can’t sit here and do nothing. I’m feeling good enough to do dinner. I’m just pouring stuff into a pan. Nothing major. No chopping, no standing at the stovetop. I’ll put this into the oven and flip it on. Nothing more.”
“Okay. I know you’re a man of action. I really appreciate that about you. It’s more than just how you kept me safe during the robbery. I like your energy. I feel good around you.”
“I like being with you. I feel at peace when I have you in my arms, or when I look across the room and you’re there.”
“It’s wild how we met and how we’re together. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. You make me happy.” She turned onto the road where Andy lived. “I’m almost there.”
“I see. I’m going to meet you outside.”
“No cars are following me. I guess it was me overreacting.”
Andy grunted. She wasn’t sure what that grunt meant. She didn’t want to be paranoid and overreact. He would get annoyed eventually if she called him all the time because she thought someone was following her. But she usually didn’t get that feeling. It had been a one-time thing. Something that had come out of the blue.
When she pulled into the driveway, she smiled as Andy came over, opening her door when she turned off the engine and clicked the locks open.
“Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, yourself. You’re looking good,” Mel said as she stepped from the car.
“Babe, you’re so freaking sexy.”
She frowned, and he rolled his eyes. “It has only been a week and a few days.”
He lifted his hands, pretending like he was innocent. “Okay, okay. I get it. We’ll have to wait a little more.”
“So, does rolling your eyes still hurt?”