Chapter 21
Andilyn
Exhausted, both physically and mentally, I climb into bed, being careful not to wake Hudson.
Briggs exits quietly, leaving the door cracked on his way out.
My eyes are so heavy it barely registers when voices start to trickle in, the mix of cadences too low for me to decipher.
It doesn’t sound heated, so it’s safe to assume that Raiden hasn’t found an excuse to arrest Briggs.
In a matter of minutes, my body succumbs to sleep, the pull too strong to deny it any longer.
I’m jolted awake a short while later, Hudson’s terrified cries making my heart race.
He starts to thrash, his mind locked in a nightmare he can’t escape.
I scoop him up, grunting when his knee makes contact with my ribcage.
I rock us both, whispering reassurances as I wipe the tears from his cheeks.
After several agonizing minutes, he starts to calm, though his body still trembles from the aftermath.
I stroke the sweat-dampened hair from his forehead, our cursed eyes clashing.
If I hadn’t been watching him so closely, I wouldn’t have seen his lips start to move, mouthing a word I can’t decipher from the darkened state of the room.
But it doesn’t take long for his silent plea to become a whisper, and from there a wail so heartbreaking it takes my breath away.
I press a hand against my mouth to keep from sobbing, pain lancing my chest as I’m forced to watch Hudson fall apart.
Mama
Two syllables. One word. But the punch it packs is devastating.
He’s crying for his mother, seeking comfort from a ghost, and I’m a poor substitute in comparison.
I’d give anything to turn back the hands of time and fix what Tobias has broken.
If I had the slightest inkling of what he was going to do that day, I would’ve used every tool in my arsenal to intervene.
Across the room, my attention is drawn to Briggs, his face hidden by shadows.
His steps are slow and measured, but once he reaches the edge of the bed, he doesn’t hesitate to climb in.
He tucks me against him, his arm hugging us both as I finally give in and let my tears fall freely.
Here comes the sun…
He quietly hums the melody, speaking a few of the words more than singing them, but the calming effect it has on both of us is magical.
Hudson presses his body closer to mine, leaving no space between us.
His breath skates across my neck, the stuttered sound gradually returning to normal.
I exhale quietly, sinking into Briggs and the safety of his embrace.
Thankfully, the rest of the night goes by without a hitch.
Hudson sleeps soundly, showing no outward signs of distress, and when my eyes flutter open a few hours later, sunlight is streaming through the window, and it’s just the two of us.
I carefully extract myself from the bed, crossing my fingers that Hudson will sleep for a little while longer, then head to the bathroom.
Once I’m finished, I practically sprint from the room, hoping there’s an update on Seth.
I was fully expecting to be woken at some ungodly hour by him banging on the door, but as far as I know, there’s been no sign of him.
It’s early, the apartment still and quiet, so it shocks me to see everyone present when I exit the hallway.
Colsen and Dayton are seated on the couch, while Briggs is in the kitchen, scrounging for something to eat.
“Would it kill you to stock this place with some actual food?” Briggs grouses as he searches the fridge in vain. “Generally speaking, nutritious does not equate to microwave dinners.”
“Are we being punked right now?” Dayton questions, his head swinging side to side in search of a culprit that doesn’t exist. “Since when do you give a fuck about nutrition? You ingest a cocktail of drugs every time you’re slightly inconvenienced.
That’s like…” Dayton trails off, his brows drawn together in thought.
“Pot meeting the kettle?” Raiden offers, gazing out the window that overlooks the street below.
“That’s enough,” Colsen snaps, his voice like ice. He casts a worried look in Briggs’ direction, eyeing the way his hands grip the counter, and he fights the urge to retaliate with a biting remark of his own.
“Has anyone heard from Seth?” I call out, stepping closer to make my presence known. Four heads swivel towards me in unison, surprise contorting their faces.
“Andi,” Raiden voices, a faint smile curving his lips.
“We didn’t want to wake you, but we were able to track him down a few hours ago.
He was passed out in a church parking lot, an empty liquor bottle in the passenger seat.
” I wince at hearing that, knowing how severe the repercussions could be for acting so selfishly.
As if he’s reading my thoughts, Raiden continues, easing my concerns before I start to spiral.
“He’s with an off-duty officer, trying to sober up and get his head straight.
He won’t be charged, at least not this time,” he emphasizes.
“But my leniency ends here and now. I understand that he’s going through something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, but I refuse to put my career in jeopardy because of his recklessness.
The only reason I stuck my neck out is that he wasn’t driving, and based on surveillance cameras at the church, he was parked there for hours.
If he had put someone else’s life at risk, Seth would be in jail right now. ”
“That’s fair.” I nod in agreement. “But thank you for helping him when you didn’t have to.”
“You should eat,” Colsen cuts in, pushing to his feet before going to the microwave and taking out a large paper bag.
He dumps it on the counter, a dozen biscuits scattering across the surface.
“I didn’t know which kind you’d like, so I got one of everything.
” I step closer, scanning the ink scrawled across the wrappers to identify what they are.
“He wouldn’t let us have one until you picked yours first,” Dayton muses, a teasing glint reflected in his light blue eyes.
“Gina Mae’s has the best sausage you’ll ever taste, so I’m willing to wrestle you for it if I have to.
” Arms crossed, he attempts to stand his ground, but the effect is lost when he shoots me a wink.
“Your sausage is safe,” I joke, giving his arm a patronizing pat.
Dayton’s eyes widen, his mouth falling open as he searches for something to say.
Colsen coughs to cover up his laugh, but there’s no hiding it.
I roll my eyes at their boyish behavior, convinced there’s no age limit when it comes to the hilarity of poorly timed innuendos.
“I’ll take the bacon if that’s okay?” At their answering nods, I snag my biscuit and claim a barstool.
“I messaged Rita, so don’t stress about showing up today. She’s not expecting us after everything that happened last night,” Colsen mumbles, his mouth full from the bite he’s just taken.
“Let’s play it by ear for now,” I insist, unable to commit to anything until I’ve laid eyes on Seth.
“Sounds good. My schedule is completely open, so it’s up to you if we go or not.
No pressure either way.” Colsen flashes me a smile, tossing his wrapper in the trash.
I watch him unabashedly as he goes about tidying up the kitchen, intrigued by the easygoing persona he exudes.
He’s due a haircut, but the shaggy look and perpetual five-o-clock shadow tend to work in his favor.
I’ve spent the least amount of time with him, but there’s something about his sincerity, how careful and perceptive he is when the two of us are in the same vicinity, that piques my curiosity.
Colsen’s steady calmness is a nice contrast to his two roommates’ more abrasive personalities.
Briggs steamrolled his way into my life and home, temporary or not, and Dayton likes to bark orders at me instead of using his big words.
Raiden, on the other hand, has been my constant from the very start.
I wouldn’t know any of them if it weren’t for him.
He took me at my word, his morsel of faith giving me the chance I needed to finally fight for the future I wanted.
He gave me back the voice that was taken from me, and I can never repay that.
Regardless of where life takes us, he’ll always be an integral part of my story.
“Seth is five minutes out,” Raiden states, pocketing his phone after reading the message that just came through.
“I’ll get Hudson ready.” I round the island and grab a diaper from the meager stack we’re left with, colliding with Dayton as I turn to leave.
“Open,” he demands, a small piece of his breakfast sandwich pinched between his fingers.
“Human,” I deadpan, pointing a finger at my chest for visual effect.
“Okay?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You seemed to be confused when demanding I open my mouth like a dog. I thought you might need clarification.” I smile sweetly, my tone drenched in sarcasm. Someone snorts–likely Briggs–but Dayton gives me a flat stare, completely unamused by my smart remark.
“Butterfly,” he starts, his eyes rounding with feigned sincerity.
“Could you pretty please try this piece of sausage I saved especially for you?” Annoyed by his persistence, I lean forward and snag the piece of food with my teeth, narrowly missing Dayton’s fingers in the process.
He huffs a laugh, dipping his head down to speak quietly against my ear.
“I can assure you, it most definitely isn’t safe with you around.
” He steps back, making a point of rearranging his dick.
Again. This is apparently becoming a thing with him.