Page 55 of Bones

“It’s true... You’ve been through so much.” Anguish filled her eyes as she said, “More than any child should ever have to go through, but you didn’t let it break you. You fought, and you’ve kept fighting. That’s more than most would do.”

“I had some help along the way.”

“Yes, and you’ve helped in return.” She placed her hand on mine as she said, “You give Wyatt a calm that he’s never had before.”

“How?”

“Just by being you.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “I see a bright future for you two, and that couldn’t please me more.”

“It would please me, too, but on nights like these, when I have no idea what’s going on, I worry that the future may never come.”

“Oh, it will. Stitch and the brothers will make sure of that.” She gave me a wink and a smile. “They always do.”

“Yeah, I know, but it’s hard not to worry.”

“Hey.” We both turn to find Stitch standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but his wifebeater and boxers. “There a reason why I just woke up in bed alone?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“So you just up and left without saying something?”

“I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Wake me, baby,” he replied, sounding surprisingly sweet. “Always wake me.”

“Okay.” Wren stood, then reached over and gave my shoulder a quick squeeze. “Thanks for the chat. It meant a lot.”

“It meant a lot to me, too.”

I watched as Wren walked over to Stitch and gave him a kiss on the lips. He took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and down the hall. Even though they were as different as night and day, they worked. They took care of each other in a way that no one else could. As I sat there eating my yogurt, I wondered if there would ever come a time when Wyatt and I would be like them. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized we already were, and that made me smile.

“That must be some really good yogurt,” Savage snickered as he walked into the kitchen in his tighty-whities. “What are you doing up so late?”

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“That seems to be going around.” He opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of tea. “Something on your mind?”

“Just the usual.”

“Hmm.” He adjusted himself as he said, “I’d offer you a distraction, but Bones would have my ass.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want that.” I chuckled as I got up and tossed my yogurt in the trash. “I think it’s time for me to call it a night.”

“I’m right behind ya.” As we started down the hall, he decided to give it one final go. “If you ever decide to ditch Bones, you know where to find me.”

“I do, and I won’t.”

Without saying anything more, I went into my room and closed the door. I crawled back into bed, and as soon as curled up on my pillow, I found myself wondering if Wyatt was still awake. I reached over and grabbed my phone from the bedside table, then sent him a text message.

Me:

Hey.

Just checking to see if you were awake.

I waited a few minutes, then sent him another.

Me:

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