Page 156 of Rugger: The Huntress

I whipped my head in the direction of his baritone. He was standing in the doorway with his shoulder against the frame.

“And, I’m with it whenever you’re ready. But, for now, you heal.”

“Okay.”

“How are you feeling?”

“A lot.”

“You need more rest. But, before you head back to bed, come downstairs. Rhea made dinner.”

“She knows I’m home?”

“And she knows you have requested privacy.”

“Did she stop by?”

“Aden brought the food,” he told me, “Come on.”

He left me sitting on the floor with Sonnie’s slippers in my hands. I placed them back under the bed where they belonged. I slid into mine and followed Chem downstairs and into the kitchen.

The water on the back of his neck and behind his ears told the story of his life. He had things on his mind that he wasn’t willing to burden anyone with, so he’d taken to the water.

“Have you left at all?”

“No.”

“You’ve been here this entire time?”

“I’ve been in the water, baby. Too many questions.”

“What’s on your mind?” I pressed, hardly caring about his discomfort.

He was willing to nurse me back to health. The least I could do was be a listening ear.

“How do you figure something is on my mind?”

“You’ve swam for nearly eight hours, Teddy. Something is on your mind.”

“You–” he revealed, “And, Egypt.”

“Everything okay with you two?”

“She got a positive pregnancy test this morning.”

“That’s good. Isn’t that what you wanted.”

“I also wanted to be there.”

My heart sank.

“It’s not your fault I wasn’t. Timing – timing was just fucked up. I wanted her to wait but… women. Y'all do what you want when you want.”

“I’d have to agree.”

Yesterday provided evidence to support his claim.

“Have a seat. Your food is in the warmer.”

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