Page 56 of Beyond Repair: Part Two

Chapter 33

Ridge

The excitement of our new bed in Nina's room wore off as soon as my feet touched the floor this morning. Neen clung to us all night long, often rolling over one body to get to another.

That bed is fucking awesome. Every single atom in my body begged me not to get up, but here I am at the breakfast table watching the love of my life push food around her plate.

Trevor and Henry are looking over the details of our sale while sneaking glances at Nina too. They're doubling checking shit so when we get to the office later, we won't be slowed down asking questions.

I feel different. Maybe it's the sickening churn in my gut trying to keep me rooted to my chair, but I say burn it to the ground for all I care. It's just a house, and this is our home now.

Nina's our home. Always has been, always will be.

I can't wait until this bone deep tension is gone.

Kai hasn't once looked at his pancakes. He just sips his coffee while staring at our girl. It's disconcerting and I bet if Nina noticed, she would find it strange.

I'm not sure what to do so I eat everything on my plate. No point in letting it go to waste. Plus, someone needs to be at their full strength today, just in case.

Just in case? Christ, I'm not sure what I expect to happen in the hour and a half that we're gone, but my mind is really taking the possibilities to the max.Talk about intrusive thoughts. I owe Nina an apology for how we handled that, I think.

Not right now though. We have other pressing concerns. And by pressing, I mean bone crushing because the weight of the shit we have going on is so damn heavy it's taking all of us to keep from collapsing into a pile of dust.

Looking at Nina, I note how slumped her shoulders are, and wonder how I can take some of that pressure off of her? Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure her answer would be for us not to leave which Trevor said is not an option. I mean, I'm almost positive we could figure out another option, but the office is just a couple of minutes away and Nina's parents will be here along with Adam the entire time we're gone.

If there was something I could do, I would do it. Willing her with our intense stares to eat something isn't working. Forcing her to eat wouldn't work, and I don't believe Trevor could do much for her appetite right now either.

I'd feel like shit if we made her eat only for her to throw it up later.Christ, I still can't fucking believe she had a strong enough panic attack that she vomited. I do wonder if part of that was her concussion's response to the stress her body was in.

My stomach bottoms out slightly at the reminder of her injury. Nina's lived through so much pain. All I want to do is protect her from the harsh hands of darkness.

Nina's had too much darkness to last a million lifetimes. It's time for the sun to shine on our sweet Nina. We just need to get today over as fast as fucking possible.

Iregret eating breakfast. And lunch.

"Fuck. This sucks," Kai grumbles.

Both of us have our arms crossed as we watch Nina and her mom set up a picnic in the side yard. Specifically not within the safety of the damn fence. I'm pissed and want to stomp over there. Demanding they move their cozy setup to the back would not earn me any points though.

Especially with Will glaring at me and Kai from his lawn chair. The asshole is munching on grapes while Adam checks out the sturdiness of Nina's wooden privacy fence.

When our woman explained her reasoning for wanting to sit out front, Trevor caved. Much to my dis-fucking-may. At least he said no to sitting in the front yard, but promised to help bring out some pillows and blankets so they could make an awesome picnic area on the side of the house.

Her tears had flown so freely when she expressed how worried she was about us being gone. Nina said she'd feel better if she could be outside waiting for us so she would know the exact moment our car turns onto the road.

I'd rather she be inside behind locked doors while we're gone, but at least she's not sitting on the side of the road like a waiting duck.

Henry follows Trevor out the front door empty handed while Trev carries an armful of water bottles. "I don't like this," Henry says.

"Maybe we can stay—" I'm cut off when Adam pops up behind us and slaps a hand down on my shoulder.

"Calm down. Go sell your house so you can completely behere." Adam's advice ends after that. We watch him testing a rough spot on the fence for a moment before we each trail our gazes over the neighborhood.

Chills race down my spine for what seems like no damn reason. They're both right. This does suck and I don't like it either.

"Alright, baby. We have to go," Trevor announces and I swear I see Nina's bottom lip tremble before she buries her face in his button-up.

Will stands and assures us that everything will be fine, but I hardly hear him because Nina's walking toward us in her dainty white sundress looking like a goddess.

She hugs Kai first who wraps his arms around her as tightly as possible. Henry joins the embrace and kisses the top of her head. I feel like I black out a little when it's my turn and her lithe body trembles in mine.

Leaving her behind feels horribly wrong, and yet that's exactly what we do. I watch her settle on her picnic blanket with her mom who snuggles her close. Soon,too soon, Nina disappears from view as Trevor drives us away, Kai and Ridge following behind in the second vehicle.

The sick feeling in my gut grows with each mile, but I turn my focus on getting this shit done so we can get home as fast as possible.

We're coming back, Nina.

---