Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Abyss
I burst out laughing and at her hurt look, I lean in and kiss her nose. “It’s okay, babe, I was laughing about the situation, not at you, I promise. We’ll let it just happen, Shelly, because you’re not gonna have an allergic reaction on my watch if I can help it.”
“Since the last time wasn’t a lot of fun, I appreciate that, Abyss,” she teases. “Because blowing up like some kind of cartoon isn’t on my bucket list.”
Before I know what’s happening, she’s laughing in my arms, looking up at me and with the sun shining down, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“Won’t let that happen,” I reply. “Let’s finish up the horses and then we can go over to the clubhouse for a couple of beers.
” She makes a face and I smirk. She’s not a big fan of beer, but unbeknownst to her, I had the prospects stock some of the Mike’s Hard lemonades she likes, so while I have one or two, she can enjoy those.
It doesn’t take long to finish grooming the horses and as I lead them back into the barn, I can feel her eyes on me, causing me to walk a little taller with a bit of a swagger in my step.
It may be the weekend, but a lot of the brothers are hanging around, and soon, we’ve got BamBam and Livy sitting with us as we talk about everything and nothing.
Both women are slightly tipsy, so I’m happy when the prospects walk in carrying the food that Constance and Maria have made that’ll dry up some of the alcohol.
She’s still not driving home in her state, but I don’t want her to have a hangover, either.
“Gonna grab you some food,” I say, interrupting her and Livy.
“I can get it, Abyss,” she replies.
“Nope, I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
BamBam and I pile several plates of food high enough that there’s bound to be something the women will eat. “She’s definitely a lot more relaxed these days,” he says as we walk back to our table.
“I think it’s because she’s settling in plus she’s been meeting with Beth,” I confess. “I’m sure at some point, she’ll tell Livy what’s going on, but I’m not going to betray her trust, brother.”
“Wouldn’t want you to,” he advises as we set the plates down. “Be right back, need to get some silverware,” he says.
I sit back down and grin when I see Livy and Shelly have their heads together, giggling. “What are you two up to now?” I ask as BamBam returns with silverware as well as napkins, which he hands out before taking his seat once again.
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Livy sasses. “But I will say that we’re planning a shopping trip.”
Shelly nods then adds, “She knows where there’s an Ulta and I’m running low on some stuff.” She looks at Livy and asks, “Do you think Issy would like to go?”
“Go where?” Issy questions as she and Rio join our table, carrying their own plates and utensils. “If it’s Ulta, count me in. I may not dress all girly girl, except during a rodeo, but I do need more of my skincare products.”
Shelly claps her hands and grins. “Perfect! When should we go?”
I turn to Rio and ask, “When are we having church?”
“Thought we could have it tomorrow at some point, but some of the brothers and Mack are heading out in the morning to go fishing, so when they get back, I guess.”
“That works. Got a few things I want to bring to the table. Well, one actually, and I think it ties in with what Doc was getting for us,” I tell him.
“I’ll keep it in mind. Now, let’s eat because I feel the need to beat my woman at a game of pool once she’s done.”
“Tonight was a lot of fun,” Shelly murmurs as we head up to my room. “Also, thank you for not wanting to drive because you’d been drinking.”
“Never have, never will, but especially not with you along for the ride,” I promise as I unlock my door.
Once we’re both inside, I close and relock it, then move to my wardrobe to dig out a T-shirt for her to wear.
“The bathroom’s through that door and there are new toothbrushes in the cabinet. Help yourself, sweetheart.”
While she heads in to get changed, I straighten my room, thankful that one of the girls cleaned it earlier today, leaving me to put my clean clothes away.
I may not do anything with the club girls and haven’t in quite some time, but I do allow them to clean my room and do my laundry for some spending money.
When she comes back out of the bathroom, her clothes neatly folded, she sets them in the chair that’s in the corner and slowly walks toward the bed, her phone in her hand. “I uh, I need a charger, Abyss.”
“Let me see it, Shelly,” I say. She hands it to me, and I look at the plug then grin. “I’ll plug it in the power bank since I’ve got extra chargers that’ll fit your phone.”
“Thanks.”
Once her phone is plugged in, I watch her slide into bed and bite back my smile. She looks nervous, but I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life. “I’ll be right out,” I say as I grab a pair of cut-off sleep pants and a clean T-shirt.
“I’ll be right here,” she teases.
It doesn’t take me long to get changed, take a piss, then brush my teeth and soon, I’m joining her in my bed. It’s a king size because of my height, but right now, there’s so much space between us I think another person, maybe two, could fit.
“Shelly?” I ask.
“Hmm?”
“Why are you so far away?”
“I don’t know,” she admits, sliding a little bit closer. “I guess I didn’t think too far ahead.”
“Sweetheart, we’re going to sleep. Well, maybe we’ll watch a movie or something if you want, but outside of that and a few kisses, sleeping is on the agenda.”
“Did you hear that Uncle Mack is going fishing for a few days?” she asks, moving closer.
Once she’s moved, I sling my arm over her shoulder and pull her close to where I’m leaning against the headboard. “Relax. And yes, I heard. Sounds like your house is gonna be empty for a few days.”
She grins up at me and nods, all nervousness now gone. “I know! I mean, it’s my house too, of course, so I should be allowed to do whatever I want, but I don’t want to rub his nose in anything since he’s alone now.”
“Then let’s settle in and find something to watch, make out during the commercials, and plan to head over to your house for a few days. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea. I may still be nervous as all get out, but I’m ready to step into a future with you.”
Waking up the next morning and seeing her hair splayed across the pillow settles something deep inside my chest. Granted, my morning wood is on display, but she’s still sound asleep, so I’m good for the time being.
True to my word, we did make out, sometimes hot and heavy, during the movie she chose, but I didn’t take it any further wanting to respect her boundaries.
There’ll be time enough for that while Mack’s out of town.
I carefully slide out from underneath her and she curls into my pillow, a small huff of air passing her lips.
Grabbing clean clothes, I head into my ensuite to take a shower and get ready for the day.
Even though several of the brothers are going with Mack, Rio sent me a text last night letting me know that we’d be meeting with Doc and Nerd this morning after breakfast while the women go shopping.
But after all of that happens? I’ll have Shelly to myself until the middle of the week, at least. We might have to work, but we’ll still be together, and since I enjoy spending time with her, it won’t be much of a hardship.
By the time I’m done, she’s awake and after giving me a shy smile, she heads into the bathroom to get cleaned up and ready for the day.
I dig through my T-shirts and find one that’ll work, then hear a knock on my door.
Opening it, I see Livy standing there, a shirt in her hands.
“I thought this might fit Shelly,” she says, thrusting it at me.
“That way, we can leave right after we eat.”
Chuckling, I take it from her, say, “Thanks,” then close the door just as the bathroom door opens. “Livy brought you a shirt to wear so you wouldn’t have to change y’all’s plans.”
“She’s a saint,” Shelly murmurs, taking it from me and turning around to go back into the bathroom. After she swaps shirts, she comes back out and asks, “Can you grab my phone?”
“Already got it, sweetheart. Let’s go eat so you can go do girly things,” I tease.
“Okay, Abyss, what was it you wanted to discuss?” Rio asks.
The four of us are in his office since it’s not an official church meeting, which is fine with me.
“So, one of Shelly’s clients didn’t show up like I told you, and now, one of her friends has filed a missing person report.
Gina, the woman who filed it, says this is not typical behavior for her friend. ”
“Who’s her friend that’s missing?” Doc asks.
“A woman by the name of Gretchen Billings,” I reply. When Doc’s face pales, I get an ugly feeling in my gut. “Doc? What’s going on?”
Doc shakes his head and says, “Gretchen’s one of the clinic’s employees.
She’s a recovery coach for the substance abuse side, and she’s been MIA for over two weeks now.
She wasn’t scheduled for any vacation and in fact, the last time anyone saw her was the night before she was going to get her sobriety tattoo.
Nobody’s seen her since, and now, you’re telling me that she never showed for her appointment. Something must’ve happened to her.”
“Is she one of the people on the list you were getting for us?” Rio asks.
“No, but now she is,” Doc states, the look in his eyes hardening. “The people on the list are those who haven’t come in for their monthly appointments.”
“They could’ve relapsed,” Nerd offers.
“If they were in their first month or so, I’d tend to agree, but each of them has over nine months of sobriety under their belt. They’re all working their program, taking the medication we prescribed, and have begun weaning off of it,” Doc replies.
“Then we need to look into it,” Rio decrees.