Eli stilled. “Why?”
Bridget paused as she reached the top of the stairs out of the den. “Because of Jerica.”
Eli’s smile said enough, but she made sure Bridget got plenty of teasing as they went into the kitchen to clean up and make dinner.
“I’ve got to run right after dinner,” Eli said as she slipped the food into the oven. “Sarah’s coming in tonight.”
“Oh yeah?” Bridget raised her eyebrows salaciously.
“Yes.” Eli blushed furiously, the red running all over her cheeks and down her neck. Bridget loved it when she did that. It was impossible for Eli to avoid being embarrassed sometimes. “So I’ll be in late, because it’s a long drive.”
“Sure, and there are pitstops along the road in ditches you might want to try out on your way home,” Bridget answered with a chuckle. “I’ll clean up down there as best as I can, too. Don’t want to bring your girl home to a disgusting house.”
“Thanks. Really. I appreciate that.”
“No problem.” Bridget sighed. It wasn’t much longer until they were all at the dinner table, eating.
* * *
It was dark, and the house wasn’t quiet. Bridget lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, people moving above her as they did whatever they did. While she longed for the quiet of her own house, she was actually quite happy to be around people, even if it wasn’t Eli. Even just hearing them above her reminded her there was something to live for.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Jerica, though. It had been hours since she’d heard from her, but Jerica was at work, so that wasn’t surprising. She should be off soon, and Bridget fully expected a late night of texting between the two of them.
She must have lost track of time, because she heard Eli’s ever-loud voice booming through the basement, the shuffling of feet as they walked through the living area and into Eli’s bedroom. Then Bridget wanted to claw her ears out. There was nothing like listening to her ex-girlfriend fuck her current fiancé in the room next to hers. The groans, the thumps, the murmurs she couldn’t quite make out—not that she tried.
Rolling onto her good side, Bridget pulled a pillow over her ear and tried to tune them out, but the walls were a whole lot thinner than they probably thought they were. Not to mention it sounded like they were against the damn wall that bordered the two bedrooms.
Her stomach roiled with nausea again. She thought about climbing out of bed and going to the living room or upstairs, but there was no way she could do that quietly, and it would take forever for her to make it on her own while she dragged her scooter with her. Clenching her eyes shut, Bridget tried to drown them out. She thought of anything and everything but what was happening next door—at least, she tried to.
She wasn’t exactly successful. Grabbing her phone, Bridget did the only thing she could think of. She called Jerica and sent up a prayer that she was off work and able to answer the call. As soon as Jerica’s smooth voice came over the phone, Bridget was instantly at ease.
“Hey there,” Jerica answered.
“Hey,” Bridget mumbled, realizing too late she still had the pillow over her head. She knocked it off and tried again. “Hey.”
“I didn’t expect you to call. I’m just getting into my car.”
“Good timing then.” Bridget rolled onto her back, staring at her ceiling again. She needed the distraction, the thumping from next door too much for her to take on her own. “I need a distraction.”
“Oh? What kind of distraction?”
“Any.” Bridget nearly broke on the word. “Just any.”
“Oh no. What’s happening?”
“It’s not been a great day.” Sighing, Bridget wanted to move but was confined by the sling. She really couldn’t wait to be done with that thing or with the cast on her foot. Not only did it itch, but it was sweaty and getting to the point it was uncomfortable. But since it was her career on the line, she wanted to be sure she did everything the doctors said exactly as they told her to do it. She wasn’t going to risk not being sheriff, as much as her parents thought she already had.
“Want to tell me about it?”
Pursing her lips, Bridget heard the sound change as Jerica connected her phone to the vehicle. She had no idea how far Jerica lived from the hospital—something she should probably figure out sooner rather than later—so she wasn’t sure how long she should keep the conversation light before she turned it to deeper subjects.
“Well, Eli’s fiancé came home.”
“Oh. Oh!” Jerica finally understood what Bridget wasn’t saying.
“So I’m listening to something I never thought I would have to hear, something I never wanted to hear, and something I never wanted to walk in on again.”
Jerica nearly choked. “Wait? What do you mean again?”