Page 82 of Rune
“Not when it happened, no. But I’m with him now.”
“Good. You need someone waiting on your hand and foot.”
“He is. Don’t worry. I haven’t left the bed yet today.”
“I knew I liked that man.”
Yeah, I was really starting to as well. As weird, messy, and complicated as that was.
“So, you’re in Columbus?”
“Yep. All snuggled in at the hotel. Right, Hammy?” she asked, panning the camera to show me the dog passed out on the bed. “You’d think she walked for six hours, not dozed in the backseat. But we made a lot of stops today to stretch our legs.”
“How’s it going? You sick of driving yet?”
“No. I’m having a lot of fun, actually. It’s been nice to see more of the country. We never really traveled much.”
That was true. Our parents never had the money when we were kids, and we damn sure never had it as adults. She’d made one spring break trip to the Bahamas with a boyfriend and I’d gone to Puerto Rico last year. But that was really the extent of our travels.
“Good. I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it.”
“Yeah, I… hey, Rune!” she called, making me turn to find him walking in from the bathroom in nothing but a damn towel.
My mouth went dry.
My sex, completely unconcerned with how bruised and achy I was, twisted.
“Hey, Sof.”
“I hear you’re taking good care of my sister after her fall.”
“I like to think so. She’s been a surprisingly good patient. Didn’t expect to keep her stubborn ass down.”
“I know, right? She once had the flu, and I had to go behind her back to cancel her cleaning clients so she would rest.”
“I’m sitting right here,” I mumbled.
“And you know how you are,” Sof agreed. “Okay. I’m going to let you get back to resting. I will call in the morning to check on you before I hit the road.”
“Sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
“See?” Rune asked when the call ended. “There was no reason to put that off all day.”
“I just didn’t want her distracted or worried while she still had driving to do. This was better. Even if I don’t feel great about not giving her the full truth.”
“Like the full truth you gave her about me?” he asked, shooting me a cocky little smirk.
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I’ve been doing so much lying the past year. I feel bad enough about it.”
“Hey, you were protecting her from your little murderous plot. I think that makes you a good sister.”
“You make me sound unhinged.”
“Passionate, sure. Maybe a little naive. Grieving. Not unhinged. Trust me, I’m feeling pretty blood-lusty right now myself.” His gaze slid over my face, and I swear it felt like a soft caress over my bruised and swollen skin.
“Did you get in touch with your hacker friend?”
