“And if it isn’t, down the road?”
“Then I guess we go down the road and find out.”
He considered that for a moment before nodding. “Alright, down the road, I guess.”
I took his hand in mine and walked back down the path to his cabin.
For a nap, of course.
EPILOGUE
Two YearsLater
“Reno, get your ass out of that fucking tree before your dumb ass gets hit by fucking lightning!” I snarled up through the boughs of the tree as it swayed heavily with the wind, the thick scent of rain in the air.
“I just need a couple of samples to make sure this isn’t an infection and?—”
“Now! Or I’m calling Jake over to shake the tree and get you out.”
“Then I would fall and break something.”
“But you wouldn’t be climbing trees anytime soon, now would you?”
He thought about that for a moment. “Fine, but I hope this is enough or?—”
Which was when I stopped listening because I knew the idiot wasn’t going to get out of the tree until he got whatever samples he apparently needed. I had been warned, back when I brought Mika and Reno onto the team, that having scientists around would be a test of my nerves. I’d thought, hey, how bad could a couple of eggheads be?
Bad enough to get on my nerves, that was for sure.
“Jake,” I barked into the bay doors. “Go get Reno out of that tree. If I don’t see him on solid ground within the next three minutes, I’m getting Colin out here, and you know how that’s going to go.”
Jake gave his same, stupid grin and jogged past me. “Reno! They’re gonna get the Doc if you don’t get down!”
How sad was it that my boyfriend was scarier than me? When the fuck did that even happen?
“Don’t start,” I jabbed a finger at Trevor, who was smirking at me as he stayed partially buried in the front of one of our trucks. Not enough that I couldn’t see him smirking.
I wasn’t buying his innocent look, but I kept walking, knowing well enough to pick my battles as I walked back into the main building.
“I understand, Cait,” I heard Colin saying in his ‘I’m trying to be patient, but you’re testing that patience,’ voice that was a warning to everyone, including me…except for one person. The one he was talking to. “But you don’t get to give Xander hell for not taking his meds when you’re not doing the same. You’re not following any part of the lifestyle recommendations.”
“They’re bullshit,” she said stiffly.
“Hypocrite.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said. “You’re a hypocrite. Aren’t you?”
“Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“I’m not Colin right now, Cait. Remember that,” he said, and I waited to see who was going to win the battle of wills. I thought I knew, but that was literally because he was playing Doc right then, and not Colin…as he’d said.
I heard pills rattle in a bottle. “Fine. But don’t think I’ll forget this.”
“Don’t forget your medication, and I won’t complain about any grudge you hold,” he said and stepped out of her office. Hispale cheeks were flushed, a product of butting heads with Cait, but they made the freckles stand out in sharp contrast.
I caught him before he could walk away. His eyes went wide, but then a smile crossed his face as I pinned him against the wall. Cait was still muttering in her office, used to odd sounds in the place before she shut down and the music went on again.