Page 69 of Storm

“Stop ordering me around,Dick.”

He responds with a slowly growing smile.

“Whatever,” I mumble, then pull off my socks and crawl as far to the other side as possible, laying down with my back to him.

I can’t stand the feel of socks on my feet while I’m sleeping, no matter how cold it is. He laughs softly and follows me in. Instead of keeping his distance, he shifts his body against mine and tugs me closer to him.

“What the hell are you doing?” I snap out, louder than I should because of little ears in the house.

He rests his lips against my ear to say softly, “It’s fucking cold in the house. I refuse to freeze because you needed a ride.”

I twist my head around to glare at him, but that damn fucking smile is still planted on his lips I one hundred percent don’t want to kiss right now.

Growling, I turn away and shove my arm under my head. “I’m still fucking pissed at you.”

“I know, Miriam. I’m still going to keep apologizing and I plan to tell you again tomorrow.”

Neither of us falls asleep for well over an hour, but we both stay silent until I finally let my body relax and I melt into his body, absorbing his warmth.

“Goodnight, Miriam.”

“Night, Dick.”

CHAPTER 32

TATUM

Miriam’s door opens and before she even has a chance to greet me, I blurt out, “I really fucking hate how far away you live.”

Then I hold out some flowers I bought hours ago, already dropping and looking pathetic. She stares at them for a moment and I use that time to take her in, my hand slowly lowering. Walking forward, I invite myself in as she steps back. I set the flowers to the side and cup her face.

My eyes dart over her face, and I frown. “What’s going on, Miri? Are you sick? Did something happen?”

Her face is slightly puffy as if she’d been crying all afternoon and her hair is an absolute mess, strands sticking to her face in random spots.

“I lost one of my patients last night. Bonnie. I was just there yesterday, but she had stroke while she was sleeping, and the overnight nurse found her when she did her hourly check. She was already gone.”

“Aw, Miri,” I murmur, pulling her against my chest. “I’m so sorry. Did you know her for long?”

Sniffling, she turns her face to rest her cheek against me. “Yeah. For a couple of years. Ornery woman, too. God, she wasso slowat everything she did. Not because she was struggling todo things, but because she just didn’t want to be rushed. I liked her, though. Definitely one of my easier patients. A whole lot of hurry up and wait.”

Snickering, I press a kiss on the top of her head. “Sounds like the motto for the military. Always having to rush everywhere, only to stand there for God knows how long, waiting for instructions.” I feel her cheek lift in a smile, but she just sighs. “Listen, we don’t have to go out and do anything tonight if you don’t want, but I will say, I sort of have the perfect not-a-date date idea that’ll make you feel so much better.”

She pulls back, running a hand over her hair as she steps away from me. “I’ll need a few to get ready. Honestly, it slipped my mind you were even coming over tonight.”

Running my eyes over her, she’s hugging herself, which has her stomach showing a bit more. She’s almost halfway through and it’s as if every time I see her, she’s showing twice as much as before.

With a head tilt toward her bathroom, I say, “Go get ready and take your time. We’re not on a time crunch.”

Miriam heads to her bathroom, but just before she disappears inside, she says, “Hey, Tate?”

“Yeah, momma?”

She grins at that, then says, “I wouldn’t mind if we got rid of the not-a-date part.”

I lift my chin to her bathroom. “Go shower so I can take you out on a date, Miri.”

Flashing a quick, sad smile at me, she hurries off and I settle in for the wait on her couch. I use the time to check my phone, then roll my eyes when I see Ezra on the road, halfway here.

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