“Fine, if I must. But do you really have to leave for a full week? This is going to be torture, you know?” Hawk has his eyes glued to her, too. The only reason he lets her out of his sight is because he knows Jackson will be with us, or another prospect. There never were any hits on who kidnapped me. All their leads were dead ends. We’re lucky we aren’t in a lockdown, or I guess I am. That would have been ten times harder when it came to keeping Jackson at bay.
“You’re just upset because you know Hawk will be up your butt,” I snort.
“Don’t you even go there with your dirty-ass mind and mouth.” She tapes the last package up.
“What? You don’t like butt stuff?” I ask, almost falling to my back in a fit of laughter.
“You promised, Sailor. Swear to God, I don’t know how I put up with you, but for your information, butt stuff is reserved for special occasions, and now we’re dropping the subject.” She lies beside me, our hands linked. Her baby bump is showing more and more with each passing day.
“Thank you. I swore I wouldn’t cry, yet here I am.” Between the absolute emotional imbalance and the added horniness that’s hit me, I’m a freaking rollercoaster.
“You’re welcome. You’ve had my back for years. It’s time I return the favor. Promise you’ll call me when you get in and text every single day?” You’d think I was moving. I’m only going home for five days. Where she came up with a week, I don’t know.
“Pinky promise.” Our pinkies loop together, then we’re both laughing at all of the ridiculous shit we put each other through. As much as I’m excited to see my family, I know I’m going to miss my friends and home here more. I only hope once I’m back, Jackson and I can get our shit together, this time forever.
CHAPTER 20
ROCKET
“Fuck, baby doll, it’s felt like forever since I’ve talked to you.” In all honesty, when she was home here in Texas, she’d talk, but it was one-word answers. I’d text her, and we’d talk about what she was doing while in her apartment, that was if she would sit at the door, her back pressed against it much like mine was.
“Jackson.” Her voice is soft from sleep. I must have caught her just waking up. I wasn’t too sure what her schedule would be like or what she’d be up to back at her family’s ranch in Wyoming.
“You and our peanut okay?” I ask, knowing if I woke her up, there’s a good chance she hasn’t had her crazy pregnancy concoction yet.
“We’re good, tired. I forgot what it was like living on the farm, roosters crowing before sunrise, the noise of everyone getting up and moving. I’m ready to come home.” It’s the third day Sailor’s been gone, and as much as I want her back home with me, I’m not going to voice that.
“Glad to hear it. What’s on your agenda today?” I can imagine her in bed wearing one of my shirts she usually steals. Shit, I’ve had to buy more just to keep up with her thieving ways.
“God, I have no idea. If I’m lucky, it’s poking my eyeballs out. I love my momma, but she can push my shopping to the limits.” She may sound like it’s a hardship, but I know my woman. Sailor lives for shopping. It doesn’t matter if it’s at a thrift store or online, the woman can sniff out a good deal.
“You find anythin’ good?” I keep her on the phone as long as I can, not wanting this conversation to end. I’ve been relentless in calling and texting. Each day, she responds a little more and I peel the layers of Sailor and her heart back open.
“We did for our peanut, the cutest wicker bassinet, vintage and so gorgeous. The shitty part is having to ship it back. It kind of makes me mad I didn’t drive.” I start to respond, but Sailor is already ahead of that. “I know, I know, that would have been way worse and taken longer, but now I have to wait until this sweet piece makes it home, hopefully in one piece.”
“The only thing I care about is you and our peanut coming home in one piece, Sailor. We’ll find another bassinet. I’ll go shoppin’ with you until I’m blue in the face. Just make sure you come home, okay?” I tell her. More words are ready to be said, but not right now.
“We will, I promise. Though I am thinking about changing my flight to tomorrow instead of two days from now. I miss my bed, and don’t let this go to your head, but I miss you, too, Jackson.” The sweet way she says my name.