Page 19 of Sully

“Yeah, take care of her. But when you can, come on out to talk to everyone.”

“Will do,” I agreed, moving back into my room to find Bonnie in her cocoon again, the hot chocolate gone, but she was now holding the tea mug.

“I could warm that up for you.”

“I’m used to lukewarm tea. I always make a cup, then get busy reading or doing a craft or something, and forget all about it.”

“Your purse was still in your car,” I told her, passing it over. “And I found your phone.” I held it out to her so she could plug in her code, then scrolled her contacts. But, well, ‘scrolled’ was maybe a nice way of putting it. She had four numbers programmed.

Her work phone.

Her boss’s number.

Her doctor.

And a dentist.

That was it.

There was alone, and then there was what this girl had going on.

“Should I call the work phone or her cell?”

“She always has her cell on her.”

With that, I hit the call button, listening to the ring until I was sure it was going to go to the machine.

“Girl, what the fuck?” Courtney answered. She didn’t sound angry, just flustered. “Yes, I know. You’re being a good boy,” she added, and I figured she was flustered because she was trying to groom and talk at the same time.

“Courtney, this is Sully,” I said.

“Sully?” she asked, and I had her full attention. “Who are you? Where’s Bonnie?”

“That’s why I’m calling,” I said, hyperaware of Bonnie’s gaze on me, her gray eyes worried. “I’m Sully. Bonnie’s… boyfriend,” I said, watching Bonnie’s eyes go wide and her cheeks look a little pink.

“Her boyfriend? How come she’s never mentioned you? Put Bonnie on the phone.”

“Bonnie had an accident last night,” I told her. “She banged her head pretty bad. That’s why she didn’t come in today. She’s been… getting it taken care of,” I said, only half lying. I would be taking care of it eventually.

“Oh my God. Is she okay?”

“Yeah. Just not feeling one hundred yet. A little out of it. That’s why she forgot until now to have me call.”

“Okay. I need to talk to Bonnie. Now.”

I knew too many women like Courtney to think she was going to give in about this.

I held out the phone to Bonnie.

“Hey, Court. I’m so so—“

“Did you know Pickles was on the schedule today?” I heard Court ask, making my brows pinch. Who the fuck cared what dog was on the schedule when the woman had a head injury?

“No, I’m not under duress,” Bonnie said with a little smile.

So it was some sort of code between them.

That was smart.

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