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“A wreck,” I sighed. “He’s not sleeping, barely eating. I can hardly get him to go downstairs to answer the door.”
“I noticed the fancy new security system coming in.” She raised a brow at me.
I grabbed the iPad next to me and flashed it to her. I had a live feed of the entire property constantly recording. “Window sensors, door sensors, motion sensors, and an alarm if the wind blows the gate too hard.” It was hard for me not to roll my eyes at the whole thing.
“Don’t you think that’s a little extreme?” Riley hedged in a hushed voice.
“She died.” Alex pulled his head from my lap. Rolling off me and wiping his face. He moved to the edge of the bed, rubbing his beard. He hadn’t shaved since I was hospitalized. He was full on mountain man mode. “I won’t apologize for taking every precaution when it comes to her.” He stood, leaning down and kissing my forehead gently. “I’ll give you two some time alone.” He left the room, surprising me.
“I wasn’t trying to upset him.”
“No, you’re fine.” I leaned over and patted her hand. “He’s going through it.”
“Do you think he has PTSD?”
“I think so. Give him some time.”
“So.” She lay down on her side, propping her head up on her hand. “Are you going to tell me about that diamond on your finger?”
I looked down at my ring, running my fingers over it.
“It’s Gloria’s.” Riley knew what the weight of that meant.
I decided to keep my newly married status to myself. Still needed to process it.
Riley was able to distract me for a few hours. Alex would hover by the door every twenty minutes, but Ri didn’t see him, her back being to the door. She told me about Gavin and Troy and how they wanted to throw a coming home party for me that she had to talk them down from.
“I love you, girl.” Riley hugged me. “Stop getting into these shitty situations.” Her voice was clogged with emotion. “I can’t see my life without you.”
“What can I say, the gods hate me.” I squeezed her tighter. “Don’t worry, I’m here for the long haul.” I watched her go and heard the front door ding on the iPad next to me. I picked it up and pulled it onto my lap. I scanned each section until I found him and Queen.
He was down by the lake.
My heart ached for him. He had been blaming himself for what had happened, but I didn’t blame him at all.
Jon had been raised in a house that was based around buying people’s love. Being needed made him feel loved.
Jon tried to control people with it, but Alex neverneeded,and neither did I. He had just deluded himself into thinking we did.
It all made sense now.
I threw back the covers and slid out of bed.
King stood stretching, his tail wagging.
“Okay, buddy, let's go outside.” I carefully made my way out of the house and down the porch steps, stopping every so often to let the dizziness dissipate. I got to the top of the slope and paused, watching him. He stood at the edge of the dock, hands in his pockets.
Queen spotted me. At her whine, Alex turned.
“Wren, you aren’t supposed to be out of bed.” He made his way to me, scooping me up in his arms. I laced my fingers behind his neck.
“Would you take me down there?” I nodded to the lake. I hadn’t been back to it since he had pulled me from the water.
He hesitated, looking back at the body of water.
“Please?”
On that note, he took me back down the hill and onto the dock. He made no move to set me down until I wiggled. I saw it in his eyes, the fear. The way he wanted to leave this place and never return to it.
