I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. I bent, setting Gizmo down and hooking him up to his wheels. “There you go. Let me get cleaned up and then I’ll take you out and get you some breakfast.”
He danced and spun at the wordout.
“Give me ten minutes.”
I moved into the tiny bathroom off my bedroom area. The apartment was really just a single large space with a closet and a bathroom, but I’d done my best to make it mine. It was cozy. Decorated with pieces of art I’d collected over my years working at The Gallery. My attempts at watercolor and oils before finally finding my love of photography. It was me, a one-of-a-kind mess. And I loved it just like that.
I stripped off my PJs and tossed them into my hamper. I turned on the shower spray, waiting for it to get warm. I swore I still heard the echo of voices in my head from the dream. I stepped into the clawfoot tub and shower combo, pulling the curtain, and held my face up to the spray.
I didn’t move as the water coursed over me. I tried to picture Jase’s face. To grab hold of one of our beautiful memories. My favorites were always the times we were in a friendship more than anything else. It made me wonder if we would’ve lasted to forever like we’d always promised.
I knew one thing for sure. I would have loved him always. For being the boy who made me feel safe and cherished. As the best friend I’d ever had. Even if that love had transformed into something else, it still would’ve been one of the best gifts I’d ever received.
I turned under the stream of water, soaking my hair, even though it would take forever for the thick, dark strands to dry. I soaped up my scalp, taking breaks when I needed to if the pain got to be too much. I conditioned, then washed my face and body. I bent to shave my legs. The sharp, stabbing sensations ricocheted up my spine, but I was determined to finish the task, even if my tears mixed with the shower spray.
When I finished, I stepped out and wrapped a thick towel around myself. I put my hair in another. Gizmo sat, waiting politely, but he stared me down in a way that told me to hurry up.
I made quick work of brushing my teeth and dressing. I kept my hair in the towel as I took Gizmo downstairs and out the back door. There was a small patch of grass back there where he could do his business before we took our longer walk later.
Footsteps sounded near the other end of the pseudo-alley. My eyes strained against the darkness, trying to see as my heart rate picked up to keep time with the footsteps. I tugged on Gizmo’s leash. “Let’s get inside.”
As soon as we were in, I slammed and locked the door. There were no windows along the back wall of the shop, no peephole to peer through. I listened and swore I heard the footsteps slow at The Gallery’s back door. Then they picked up again, walking away.
A chill skated over my skin as Gizmo let out a low growl. I bent and gave him a good rub. “It’s okay. I guess early mornings make me jumpy.”
But I knew that wasn’t the truth. It was the perfect storm that had me on edge. My run-in with Jax the night before. The lack of sleep. The nightmare. And it didn’t help that I knew I’d have to face the onslaught of memories again this weekend.
I heldthe bag of bagels in one hand and Gizmo’s leash in the other as I headed up the stairs to Addie and Beckett’s house. Well, it was actually Beckett’s brother’s home, but Hayes had given them use of it until the couple’s new house was built.
I looked up at the sound of the front door opening and closing.
“Hey, Laik,” Beckett greeted. Nothing about the man readdoctor, from his slightly shaggy hair to his leather jacket. But he was one of the best.
“Morning.”
He bent to give Gizmo a scratch. “The crew’s inside. And I’m gonna be honest, I’m pissed this is a girls-only breakfast because it smells amazing.”
I chuckled. “Are you honestly telling me that Addie is letting you starve?”
His lips twitched. “She might’ve snuck me a little something.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Head on in, the door’s unlocked.”
The statement was a simple one, but after everything Addie and Beckett had been through in the past few months, the knowledge that they felt safe enough to leave their front door open warmed something inside me. “Thanks. Save lots of lives today.”
“Let’s hope I don’t need to save any. I’m going for scraped knees and colds.”
“That works, too.” I gave him a wave and headed through the front door.
Voices sounded from the kitchen, and I bent to unhook Gizmo’s leash. As soon as the latch released, he took off like a racehorse towards the sounds and smells of the gathering.
Addie’s laughter sifted through the air. “Gizmo. Did you bring your mom, or did you make the walk on your own?”
“He probably would if I’d let him,” I said as I rounded the corner.
Gizmo was already in Addie’s arms, licking her face. She nuzzled his face as she balanced him against her small baby bump. “That’s because we’re best pals.”