Friday during breakfast, Rev instructed me to wear the baseball cap again and tuck my hair up. I packed after breakfast. Rev took the duffel from me and rubbed my back. He carried it downstairs with his and put it in the black truck, then he went around prepping the house for leaving for an indefinite amount of time.
I had a bad feeling as I walked out the front door, like I might throw up. Rev placed one hand on my shoulder.
"Steady, love", he said in his comforting way.
I got in the truck and scooted to the middle spot as I had ridden to his house. Rev checked the glovebox and behind the seat. I knew he was checking on which guns he had with.
"How many guns do you have at home?", he asked.
"Just the pink one you've seen me shoot with. Brad has a pistol next to the bed, another he carries with him, and the semi-automatic you gave us".
"Did you like the one I had you try in the holster?", he asked.
"Yeah, it was fine".
"You're going to take that one also, and keep it on you", he said, and quickly went back to the house.
He handed it to me with extra magazines, and I stuck it in my purse.
He climbed in and looked at me.
"Okay", I said, and he started driving.
After we got on the dirt road, he said, "Same rules apply as last time we were here, love. I will be present when you talk to him. If I don't like how he's talking to you, we're leaving, whether you're willing or not. If he touches you, I'm not holding back. I did once and I won't again".
"I know", I said quietly. "I'm not talking to him in front of you, though".
"That's fine but I'll be close enough to hear if anything is out of the ordinary".
"Can we get a hotel room before we go to the house? Then I want to do laundry and pack more things. I also need to let him know I'm going to be there, and let Bre and Andy know I'm back. Oh, and apologize to Kate for missing my shifts at the shelter". I sighed.
"You want a room together?", Rev asked.
I looked at his stern face.
"Yes".
"What if you resolve things with Brad?"
"Then I'd stay at the house".
"Fine", he said. "When we check in, we're paying cash, and we're staying as Patrick and Anne Smith".
"Did you know Anne was my middle name?"
"Of course".
"So Patrick is yours?"
"Yep".
I thought for a moment.
"When you gave me the earrings, you said it was an early birthday present, so you know that, too?"
"Yep".
"What else do you know about me?", I asked warily.
"Your blood type, height, weight, when you got your degree, where you've lived. Basically I know anything on paper and a lot of stuff that's not".
"Hmmm. Like what?"
He smiled.
"Like how your eyes flash green when you're mad. How you have so much empathy for animals. How you work your ass off to take care of people you love. How you have such an incredible capacity for love, and aren't afraid to show it, even though you've been deeply hurt by people. How you blush when I say you're pretty".
YOU ARE READING
The Neverending Hangover
Romance*Second in the Fire Whiskey series* 'I had been amazed at the connection Brad and I had, and our connection was inexplicable, but this with Rev was something else. It was different but just as impressive. Was I cursed or blessed to have two amazing...
