Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2 by Gandy, A. (read book .txt) 📕

fogging the air around me from my long soak in the tub. My hair is tied back in a French braid, and I’m wearing a simple plaid pajama set. Not what I envisioned wearing on a honeymoon, but, hey, if the pajamas fit. My teeth are brushed, I’ve slathered on my lotion, and there is nothing else to do in this bathroom to keep me here. I’m stalling, and I know it. I arch one eyebrow and give myself my sternest face in the mirror.

“Sadie, you face down angry steers, and wrangle fifteen-hundred-pound horses on a daily basis back home. One single man, who you are married to, is not something you should be scared of. Get your plaid-pajama-clad butt in gear and go tell him he doesn’t have to spend another night on that chaise lounge.” I give myself a quiet pep-talk, but it makes me feel silly more than motivated. I huff out a breath.

That’s it, I’m done being ridiculous. Turning, I sweep open the door, and a rush of steam escapes into the colder bedroom. Patrick looks up from a book, already settled for the night on the chaise lounge. His ankles and feet dangle off, but the wave he gives me is friendly before he looks down and continues reading.

It would be a lot easier to stay mad at him if he were a surly jerk. Walking to the end of the bed, I perch lightly, and fidget with the end of my braid. After a moment, he realizes that I’m sitting there and looks up expectantly.

“Is everything okay? Do you need me to look at your knee again?” he asks.

He’d thoroughly cleaned and bandaged my knee for me, after we’d gotten back from our walk. I already re-bandaged it after I got out of the tub, though.

“No, my knee is fine. Thank you for your help, though.” I hesitate, biting my lip, unsure where to start. He sits up and holds his place with his finger, giving me his full attention. His gray sleep shirt is rumpled, and so is his hair. It’s messy and endearing, and were it not for this awkwardness between us, I would reach over and smooth it out with my fingers. I bet it’s soft.

“Are you sure everything’s all right? You can tell me if it’s not, I won’t be upset.”

His question jolts me from my train of thought, and I feel the blush as it overtakes my cheeks. “Yes, it is. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about you sleeping in the bed tonight.” I pat the mattress next to me in an exaggerated manner.

“O-kay . . .” He seems surprised.

“I know things are still awkward between us, and I’m not suggesting we put anything physical on the table. It’s just, I can tell you’re uncomfortable sleeping over there, and this bed has plenty of room to share. I feel really selfish making you sleep on that tiny chair when I’m hogging the whole bed.” The words tumble out of me in a rush.

He smiles warmly at me. “Sadie, that’s really generous of you, but I volunteered to sleep over here until you get more comfortable. Are you sure this is what you want? I really am fine.”

“Yes, I’m sure. There’s no way you’re comfortable, and you literally fell off that thing this morning and landed on the floor.” The words come out steady and self-assured, and I mentally pat myself on the back.

“Okay, then. If you’re sure, I’ll join you. Can I ask you one favor, though?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Can we switch sides? I want to take the side closest to the door.”

“Uhm, okay. Yeah, that’s fine.” I wasn’t expecting the question, but I don’t care which side I sleep on.

Grabbing my charger and mini-tablet off the side table, I walk around to the other side and plug it back in.

“Is there something magical about that side that makes you sleep better?” I joke, trying to break the tension I feel as I slip under the covers.

He slides in next to me, and his face is serious when he answers. “Well, if there is another kidnapping attempt, they’ll most likely be coming through the door. So I’d prefer to be between you and them if at all possible.”

“Oh.” I pull the covers up, and stare at the ceiling for a long moment. “Do you really think that’s likely? They didn’t succeed at the NLC, and there weren’t any more attempts while we were there.”

“Unfortunately, I do. There were two more attempts while we were still at the NLC, but none of them made it past the increased guard force. I know this location was notified to increase its security staff, but better safe than sorry.” His mouth is pressed into a grim line.

I don’t even try to hide my shock. “There were two more attempts? Seriously? Why is this the first I’m hearing about it?”

He turns on his side to face me, and props himself up on one elbow. “This is the first I’ve heard of it, too. I sent a message to Glitch this afternoon to ask him to do some more digging since Josephine wasn’t here in the medical facility. He called me back while you were bathing and mentioned the two additional kidnapping attempts. Apparently, they didn’t make it past the exterior guard force, so they didn’t notify the inside personnel. We both found that sketchy, so I’m not taking any chances, even with the small details.”

My stomach feels like I swallowed a rock at that information. “So, did he find out where Josephine is?”

He shakes his head. “Unfortunately no. There are no transfer records in her file. The last record was of a blood test confirming the pregnancy was still progressing, and it was recorded under this location two days ago.”

“That makes no sense. Do you think they lied on the tour today about the floor being empty? Or where the heck is she, if not in the medical facility?” The thought