“You’ll see. And I’m not leaving you home alone, not today, so don’t even ask.” I sigh but don’t argue. “Plus, you need to get up and move around. You’re gonna be sore and the best thing for it is movement.”
I know he’s right about that, too, because the tiny motions I’ve made since waking up have my muscles straining in protest.
“Fine…” I drag the word out.
“Good girl,” the arm around my back loosens and he swats my ass.
Even with my body aching, a lightness settles over my shoulders, and I make my way out of bed and into the shower.
There’s coffee, toast and pain killers waiting for me on the edge of the sink when I turn off the water. And by the time Beckett walks me out of the house, I feel mostly human.
I don’t know when he got the mud out of his truck, but the seats are clean, and I take his help getting up into the vehicle.
“Here,” Beckett holds out my phone and my eyes widen.
I tap the screen and am shocked when it lights up.
Someone had rescued my purse from the car last night and when Beckett took it from the cop who brought it over, I was certain it’d never work again.
“Well I’ll be damned,” I whisper, scrolling through all the missed notifications. I know Beckett talked to my mother early this morning, and that they’re on their way back to Darling Lake – arriving in a day or two – so I don’t need to worry about calling them back.
I ignore everything else and tuck my phone into my pocket as Beckett turns on the truck and starts driving. He still hasn’t told me the plan for today, so I’m shocked when he pulls up outside of Maddie’s little townhouse a few minutes later.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, as he helps me onto the sidewalk.
“You are spending time with Maddie. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
My lips part to ask more questions, but then Maddie’s front door flies open and she comes running down the steps towards me.
“Lou!” Maddie’s already sobbing, and just like that my eyes fill with tears all over again.
She’s still a few feet away when Beckett holds up a hand, “Careful!”
Maddie instantly slows, Beckett’s warning reminding her that my body is sore all over.
Maddie and I hug for a long time on the sidewalk, before Beckett insists we go inside and lock the door.
The next few hours pass in a blur of calories and crying.
Time with my best friend was exactly what I needed today, but I’m still happy when Beckett calls to say he’s here.
I take the steps down to the sidewalk carefully and stop a few feet away from where Beckett is standing with a serious look on his face.
“What-” I look behind him, “Where’s your truck? How’d you get here?”
Reaching back, he pats the hood of the massive, brand new, over-the-fucking-top expensive SUV, “I drove your new car.”
“You…” My eyes widen, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“Your new car,” he tilts his head towards the vehicle, like the answer is obvious.
“I can’t accept that! Look at it!”
He actually looks at it and I roll my eyes.
“It’s just a car, Elouise. You need a car.”
“That’s not just a car. It’s… it’s… a freaking bus! And it’s expensive as hell!”