Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
WEST
Everything felt heavy. The high had worn off after the ultimate adrenaline rush and all I wanted was to get back home, shut out the world, and spend the rest of the night tucked away with Blue until Sunday dinner forced us out again.
When she told me to leave my phone inside, I figured it was because she didn’t want interruptions. I didn’t realize it was because she’d planned to shove me into the damn lake.
The shock of cold water hit first, then the sound of her laughter followed, sharp and bright against the quiet night. I broke the surface, pushing my hair back, just in time to see her leap in after me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, but the smile was already pulling at my mouth.
“Instant mood boost,” she said, grinning like she’d just solved every one of my problems. She splashed water into my face before I could dodge.
The water was freezing, but it cleared the weight from my chest in a way I hadn’t expected. “What if I didn’t know how to swim?”
“You know how to do everything, Westley Brooks. Everything except regulate your mood swings.” Her eyes danced with mischief, and I found myself laughing.
I reached down, tugged one boot off, and sent it onto the pier, doing the same with the other. No point in letting them fill with water and drag me under. Blue kicked hers away too, then swam close enough to wrap her legs around my waist.
We each grabbed the pier to steady ourselves. With her free hand, she shimmied out of her jeans, peeling the soaked denim from her hips and tossing it onto the boards above. Then her attention shifted to me, her fingers at my button, sliding the zipper down.
“Take your clothes off,” she ordered, her voice daring me to argue.
“Yes, ma’am.”
We stripped, and for the next half hour, the lake became our own private world.
Dark, quiet, endless. We swam naked under the stars, splashing and laughing, knowing the closest house was empty so we had no fear of being seen.
There was no need to weigh words, no pressure to guard feelings.
Just the kind of freedom I hadn’t realized I’d been missing.
When our muscles finally protested, I lifted her onto the pier, following after.
We stretched out, completely naked, the wood still warm beneath us from where it had baked all day in the sun, and stared up at the moon.
The world felt far away until our stomachs growled, pulling us back toward the house.
Cooking with her was easy, almost like we’d done it for years. We ate. We showered. We made love. And by the time I collapsed into bed, my body felt like it could sleep for twelve straight hours.
But Blue drifted off first. I stayed awake a while longer, watching her breathe, brushing my thumb over the curve of her shoulder.
There was a peace about her in sleep. Soft, unguarded.
It made the lake feel even further away, like that version of us belonged to some rare, protected space I didn’t want to lose.
And maybe that’s why, when my phone rang from the kitchen counter, the sound felt harsh and foreign.
I thought about ignoring it, thinking it was just another spam call that I didn’t need to worry about.
But it was late, and even spammers had to sleep, which meant it was worth checking just in case it was an emergency l.
I eased out from under Blue and left the room, crossing the living room to the kitchen with the floor feeling cool against my bare feet.
Easton’s name lit the screen and I answered without hesitation. “Hello.”
“Hey, where are you?”
“At the lake house.”
“Is Blue with you?”
“Of course. She’s sleeping.”
“I just wanted to let you know we’re responding to a call in Pecan Grove. EMTs requested for a Ronald Caldwell.”
My grip on the phone tightened. “Blue’s dad?”
“With the same last name, I’m assuming so. Figured you should know, just in case.”
He gave me the address, and I didn’t need to look it up. I’d memorized her file weeks ago. My pulse kicked hard as I ended the call and moved fast for the bedroom.
She was out cold, so deep in sleep she barely reacted when I said her name. I crouched beside the bed, keeping my voice calm but firm. “Blue.”
She mumbled something that almost sounded like words and rolled onto her back while I slid my suit pants on and a dress shirt before crouching back down.
“Blue, baby.” My hands framed her face, thumbs brushing her skin. “Easton just called. There’s been an emergency at your dad’s house. We need to go.”
That broke through the fog. She was on her feet in seconds, yanking on tiny shorts and a paper-thin tank top. I didn’t bother with my suit jacket, just draped it over her shoulders as I steered her toward the truck.
On the road, she called her dad. No answer. When she tried again there was still nothing. Each time, her voice got tighter, her breathing quicker.
“Hey.” I reached over, catching her chin, guiding her eyes to mine for as long as the road allowed. “I got you. Everything’s gonna be okay. Don’t panic.”
I let go of her chin, grabbing her hand that trembled in mine, so I lifted it to my lips and kissed her knuckles, holding them there for a beat longer than necessary.
Once we hit the main highway, I pushed the truck as fast as I could without losing control.
The night blurred past the windows, the empty parking lot of Fiddlers flashing by, and then we were in Pecan Grove.
Both of us were clinging to the hope that when we got there, everything would still be okay.