Chapter 3 #2
It’s the middle of the night when we arrive at Lee’s house. I’ve only been out here once with Calli. It’s a nice place, right on the lake and secluded. Peaceful. Which is the opposite of my roiling brain right now. I can smell the stink of the smoke on me, like burnt plastic.
“I need a shower,” I mumble.
He flips on the light and leads me through his guest room. “Everything you need should be in here. Lacey keeps shampoo and stuff for when she stays over.” He opens a cabinet and gestures to a small stack of towels and washcloths. “I’ll grab you something to wear.”
“Thank you.” I hate how my voice sounds, so defeated.
“Are you hungry?”
“No. I just want to shower and sleep.”
He catches my chin, tilting my head up. His dark eyes land on mine. “I’m sorry this happened. I won’t lie and say things will look better in the morning. But you’re going to be okay. I’ve got you.”
The soft words in his rough voice put a lump in my throat that I’ve avoided all night.
It’s the same thing he said when he was carrying me out of the flames.
I’m caught in his gaze for a moment. We’ve spent plenty of time together with our friends, but this is the first time I feel like I’m really seeing him.
Lee isn’t the gushy type. He’s quiet, gruff, like the world has taught him not to expect much kindness. There’s sadness too, hidden behind the grumbling and passive expression. I don’t want to start crying in front of him. All I can manage is a nod.
I’ve never felt more exhausted in my life.
Once he walks out, I turn the shower on as hot as I can stand it, strip off my stinking clothes and step into the spray.
Wow, the water pressure is amazing. It takes two shampoos for me to stop smelling smoke in my hair, and I’m still not sure.
It could just be in my nostrils. Or my head at this point.
At least I finally feel clean. When I get out and dry off, the clothes I took off are gone and Lee has left a pair of shorts on the bed that must belong to Lacey.
He couldn’t fit one thick thigh in them.
His thighs really are impressive. I spent a lot of time touching them when we were naked.
Why am I thinking about his thighs? My mind really can’t settle on anything.
The soft cotton shirt waiting beside the shorts is definitely his.
I’m practically drowning in it, but it’s so comfortable.
The sound of the shower from Lee’s bathroom filters down the dim hallway.
Of course he reeked of smoke too. It’s still hard to believe that he charged into my burning house and carried me out.
My eyes feel heavy despite my racing thoughts. I don’t want to go to bed with wet hair and soak the pillow, but luckily, there’s a small purple hair dryer under the sink. After using it, I turn the light out and crawl into bed.
Minutes later, Lee returns. “I didn’t mean for you to sleep in here. Get in my bed.”
“What? Why?”
“I told you I’m keeping an eye on you.”
“I’m fine. You don’t need to—” My argument is cut off when he scoops me up and starts down the hall without a word.
He deposits me on his bed then nods at the nightstand. “There’s some water if you’re thirsty.” It’s the only thing he says before turning out the light and climbing under the covers with me.
“Thanks. Is your ringer on? Calli left a message for my general manager for me, letting her know she can contact her if she needs to get in touch with me in the next day or two. Just until I get a phone.”
“It’s on. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry. That’s all I do for the next hour.
Worry and try to list all the things I need to do when I wake up.
I need to get my truck from Calli’s. My first stop will be my house, of course.
Then I’ll have to go to the bank and see what I can do to replace my debit and credit cards.
Which might be hard to do with no identification.
Then I need a phone. I need to get in touch with my insurance company.
Hopefully, it’ll pay for short term housing or at least refund me for a hotel stay while I sort things out.
Damn it, I don’t have anything to wear to do any of that. I roll onto my side with a frustrated sigh. What I’d give to be able to call my mom right now.
Lee sits up and looks down at me. “Are you okay? Is it getting hard to breathe?”
I thought he was asleep a long time ago. My tossing and turning is probably keeping him up. “No, I feel fine. I just can’t sleep. There’s so much I have to do.”
“Not right now, there isn’t.” He lies down and pulls me into his arms. He slept in my bed during our one night stand, but we passed out without cuddling. I really missed out. He cups the back of my head and presses my cheek to his warm chest. “All you have to do now is rest. It’ll be okay.”
He moves his hand down to rub my back. The sudden comfort I feel makes me blink away tears.
It isn’t going to be okay. At least not anytime soon.
But with his strong arms around me and the rhythm of his large hand spreading warmth up and down my back, I find some relief. My body relaxes, and I sink into him.
The murmur of voices wakes me, and the memory of everything that happened pours in before I can open my eyes.
I sit up straight to see it’s past eleven in the morning.
God, I slept like a rock for almost eight hours.
The bed beside me is empty. Why didn’t Lee wake me?
Shit, I have so much to do. I’ll just have to wear the clothes I’m in to get my car from Calli.
I’m sure she can loan me an outfit when I get there.
I scramble out of bed, use Lee’s bathroom, and take a minute to rinse my mouth with his mouthwash since I don’t have a toothbrush. Call me weird, but having his tongue in my mouth doesn’t mean I’m cool with sharing tooth crud.
My plan is to head to Calli’s as soon as possible, but when I step into the kitchen, Calli and Lacey sit at the table. Lee leans against the counter, a coffee cup in his hand. “How are you feeling?” Calli asks, getting up to hug me.
“I’m fine. Why didn’t you wake me up?” I ask Lee.
“You needed the rest.”
Lacey pops up and holds out a cup of iced coffee. “We stopped to get these on our way when Lee said you weren’t up yet. Thought you might need one.”
“Just marry me right now,” I sigh, taking the cup.
She laughs and nods toward the guest room. “I also had some clothes I’ve been meaning to drop off at the thrift store. Just stuff I don’t wear anymore. I thought maybe you could use them. We’re pretty much the same size.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.” As much as I hate to ask for help or depend on other people, I’m not too proud to accept it. Especially now.
“No problem.”
I excuse myself to get dressed and I’m surprised to find my pajamas washed and folded on the bed as well.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but they still have a faint odor like burning plastic.
The panties are needed, but I choose a pair of jeans and a tee shirt from Lacey’s bag.
Calli also brought me a few things, including a pair of tennis shoes.
They’re a size too big, but they work for now.
Lacey grins as I join them at the table. “That shirt looks way better on you. It always laid weird for me. It was clearly made for bigger breasts.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Lee grumbles, rubbing his palm over his face.
“What?” Lacey frowns over at him. “It’s not like she doesn’t know she has bigger breasts than me. It wasn’t an insult. Mine are just small. That’s why I didn’t bring her a bra.”
Calli is biting back a smile. Lacey and I laugh when she looks back at me. “What’s the matter? You don’t like hearing about your sister’s boobs?” I tease, unable to resist. Something needs to lighten the mood.
He narrows his eyes at me and continues to sip his coffee. Calli pulls out my keyring. “I’m glad you left these in your truck instead of taking them with you.”
“Me too. One less problem to solve. Thanks for bringing my truck. I can’t believe I slept so late. I need to see my house and go to the bank before they close. Then buy a new phone. I can drop you back at home first.”
“I’ll go with you,” she volunteers as Lee leaves the room. “You’re going to need some cash if the bank gives you trouble. And we can go shop for whatever else you need right now.”
I hate pulling her away from home when I know she has a house full of company, but I’m not in the position to refuse. “Thank you.”
Lee returns and sets a familiar wallet on the table. “Your cards are melted but you can read them. The bank should replace them without an issue.”
“Where did you get that? It was in my purse.”
“The purse was scorched but that survived.”
My jaw drops and I blink at him. “You’ve been back to my house? Inside?”
“Only a few steps into the living room. You can’t get any further. The roof collapsed.”
“It’s a total loss then?” I ask, trying to wrap my head around the reality.
“I’m sorry. I think you’ll have to tear it down and rebuild. Only about a third of the house is still standing.”
It’s awful, but I don’t let myself wallow in despair, at least not right now. My friends were out doing what they could to help me while I was still asleep. You can’t feel unlucky with people like that in your life.