Red Alert/Red Notice (The "Super Jerk" Prequel)

3 - This Time

^^Chapter title credit: Song by INXS.^^

{Geoffrey}

Even though I felt a little better after what I said to Raina, I know it didn't help. We'd listened to Ettie helping Mila read her favorite story about a puppy, and then I picked up Ettie and as we went upstairs, she fell asleep on my shoulder. By the time I'd tucked her into bed, put the baby gate up, and turned out her light, my guess was proved right when I came back to our bedroom. Raina had fallen asleep without changing her clothes, but just by the fresh tear tracks on her cheeks I saw that's what she'd been doing before that happened. I took her shoes off, pulled the sheets over her, and then climbed on next to her, fitting my body against hers perfectly.

We wake up slowly, and this time I don't leave. I feel her stirring next to me, and that's what wakes me.

"Geoff?" she says softly into my neck.

"Hey." I kiss her temple. "Feeling okay?"

"If an emotional roller coaster is the same thing as okay, then yeah, I guess."

"Look, Raina," I sigh, threading my fingers through her hair. "I wish I could make everything better for you in one word. I hate to see you so traumatized still."

"You being here is enough." She runs a finger along my jaw. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that yesterday."

"Don't apologize. It's completely out of your control."

"I want to help you with this Ridley thing," she says, propping herself up on an elbow to look into my face. "If he's got a plan, it involves everyone. And it'll keep me busy."

"Raina, that could be dangerous." In fact, I know it is. And worse, he could use both Raina and Ettie against me to get me to do what he wants me to do.

"And you don't think I know that?" She cups my cheek, her eyes serious. "I'm not just your girlfriend anymore. I'm your wife, and I want to help."

"Then will you get some help for yourself?"

She bites her lip and nods. "Promise."

I smile, burying my hand in her hair. "I love you, my imperfectly perfect wife."

"And I love you, my perfectly imperfect husband."

She leans forward to kiss me, and I take that opportunity to roll her on top of me, running both hands down her sides. She sighs against my mouth and slides hers up, tightening in the short strands of my hair. I catch the backs of her thighs and pull her forward, so her legs straddle my hips. She makes a surprised noise in the back of her throat, but doesn't pull away. I don't want her to either, because being with her like this is the only thing that makes the whole outside world vanish.

That is, until the phone next to the bed starts ringing. Raina makes another noise, this time one of annoyance, and rolls off me as I reach over to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, man, it's me. It's Matt. Remember me?"

"Hey, Matt." I sit up, and then stand. Raina sits up too, raking a hand through her hair. "Thanks for calling back so quick."

"Yeah, no problem. Hey, listen. Would you want to meet up sometime soon, to talk it out? Been wanting to catch up anyway, and Tori wants to meet Raina."

"Tori?" I can't ever remember hearing that name.

"My fiancée." There's a smile in his voice. "She's great. You guys'll like her, I think."

"Hey, when it comes to girls, you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."

Matt laughs, his usual loud bark. "True that. But seriously. I'm down in Manhattan for a few days before heading back to Providence. Think you guys could make it?"