“You want to head over to the diner for dinner?”Weston questions.“I can bring you back here before I head to the ranch.”
“Nah.I think I want to just stay in.”
“You’ve got it.Anastasia went grocery shopping this morning,” he says.“Your fridge should be stocked with some quick meals.Call if you need anything, and don’t leave the door unlocked.Can’t have you getting pepper sprayed again.Doc says your lung can’t take much more.”
“Thanks for the reminder,” I retort as I slowly lower myself down onto the couch.It may be two weeks old, but the knife wound in my side still feels fresh.Though that could have a whole lot to do with the fact that I pulled it so badly yesterday.It’s a miracle I didn’t tear anything open.
The moment I’m resting back against the couch, my muscles go completely limp.Exhaustion tugs at my senses, and I yawn.
“We’ll get out of your hair.Are you sure you’re okay if I head home and grab some things?I won’t be gone long.”
I nod.“I’ll be fine.SEAL of honor,” I add, holding up my hand.
Sawyer rolls his eyes.“You’ll never make that a saying.”
“One day, all the kids will be saying it.”
Ryker chuckles as he heads for the door.“I’m off tonight, so if you need something, let me know.”
“Thanks, Tank.I will.”
He nods, then slips out into the hall.Weston and Sawyer both offer me waves before following him out.Before I even have the chance to pull myself up to lock it, I can hear the faint scrape of a key being slid into the lock moments before it turns on this side.
Alone at last, secured in my apartment, I take a deep breath and let the silence sink into my mind.It’s the first time I’ve been alone in weeks.Sure, there were those couple of blissful hours before I ended up back in the hospital, but even then, I was haunted by the blood staining the floor.By the image of the man I killed, lying dead on the carpet just beyond it.
Now, thanks to Katelyn, even that’s gone.I have to find a way to make it up to her.Maybe flowers?Or are those too romantic?When I’m on my feet, I could make her a lasagna and take it over for her and her son.
Or is that too suggestive, too?
With another yawn, I close my eyes and settle further, sinking into the couch as best I can.All while images of Katelyn play through my mind.Someday, I’ll find a way to thank her for cleaning up my apartment.
One way or another.
Subtle scraping pulls me out of sleep.Before I’m even fully awake, the adrenaline is already surging through my system.I reach beneath the cushion of my couch for the knife I keep there, then pull it out and get to my feet.As I do, I move toward the door, keeping enough distance that I can pull back if it’s Anastasia, Sawyer, or someone else coming to check in on me, but close enough that I can use the element of surprise if it’s an unwanted guest.
Though the latter is highly unlikely since they caught the guys who tried to kill me the first time.
Still, the fight or flight in me is heavily weighted toward fight, so I wait.
Lord, please grant me calm.
The door swings open, and through the dim light from the hallway just outside the door, I can make out a soft, feminine figure.
“Hello?”she calls out.
I flip the lamp beside me, bathing the room in light as I hide the knife behind my back.“Hey.”The adrenaline already waning, my movements are slow.Jarred.
Katelyn blinks rapidly, her hazel eyes adjusting to the flood of light.Seconds later, her cheeks turn a gorgeous shade of crimson.“I amsosorry.I knocked, and no one answered.Your girlfriend left me with a key, so I wanted to come and leave you some of these since I figured you probably wouldn’t be making meals anytime soon.”She holds up a few aluminum trays stacked on top of each other.
“No need to apologize, come on in.”As soon as she walks farther inside, I tuck the knife behind my television and follow her into the kitchen, one arm banded around my waist to apply slight pressure to my still-healing wound.
The clock says I’ve only been asleep about forty-five minutes, which means Sawyer is due here any minute.
“I really am so sorry.I keep barging in here like I own the place, and that’s not me.I wasn’t sure you’d be home yet, and I wanted to make sure that you came home to food.Though I imagine Anastasia is taking care of you.Wow, I feel like a fool.”She laughs nervously and sets the trays down on my counter.The color of her cheeks deepens, and I’m momentarily struck mute at the sight of her.
My chest tightens, heart pounding.
What is happening to me?