Page 112 of Finding Our Reality

Rolling over, she stretches her arm across my side of the bed, searching for me. “Ry?”

It’s not even seven in the morning. It’s raining outside so the gray morning light casts her swollen and well-loved body in the most beautiful of shadows. Gorgeous. My Lulu is gorgeous.

“I’m right here.”

Her voice is thick with sleep. “What are you doing?”

I pull on my boots, walk over to the bed, and sit next to her. I trace my finger up the curve of her spine. Something catches my eye. The bandage on her arm has some blood on it. Shit. We were pretty wild last night. Well, this morning, I guess you would call it. I hope she didn’t bust a stitch.

She tries to open her eyes, but they’re too heavy. She looks like a little kid trying to stay awake in church. It makes me laugh. “Go back to sleep. It’s early.”

“Come back to bed.”

“I can’t. I got called in. There was a gas station robbery, I have to work.”

“What time is it?”

“Close to seven.”

She pats my thigh. “We didn’t go to sleep until after three. Come back to bed.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can. Keep the bed warm for me.” I lean forward and kiss her temple. She doesn’t budge. She’s already fallen back asleep.

Walking into the bathroom, I grab the first-aid box and then set it on the nightstand. I open the drawer, push my latest book aside, and grab a notepad and pen.

I’m sorry I had to leave for work. I’ll be home as soon as humanly possible.

Do not move. Not a single inch. I expect to find you in my bed. Naked. Wet. And waiting for me.

Last night was nothing. I have so much more to give. It was just the beginning.

GAME ON.

PS-I’m sorry about your arm.

***

I can’t believe I had to work all day. All damn day.

But there were some positives to it. Like when Lulu texted me asking what time I would be home.

Home. To our home.

It made my heart feel like melted butter.

I could get used to that. Hell, one text, and I’m already used to it.

Marcum was waiting at the gas station for me when I pulled up this morning. He saw the hickeys all over my neck. He also saw the shit-eating grin plastered all over my face.

He grunted. “She’s like a daughter to me. Besides that, you show up to a crime scene parading yourself around like that? You look like you just left a strip club. Not very professional, son.”

I nodded, respecting the chastising from my mentor. “Yes, sir. It won’t happen again.” I shook my head, not meaning what I literally said.Because you better believe it will happen again.“What I mean is, I won’t show up in a physical state like this again.”

He nodded, but when he turned around, I caught his reflection in the side mirror of his truck. He smiled. Smugly, proudly.

It was something small. It probably meant nothing to him, but it made me feel like I just had a talk with my dad. Well, notmyfather, obviously, but it felt like what a fatherly talk should be like. So, I enjoyed the moment.

Oh yeah, and we caught the bad guy.

---