When I hear the garage door, the dogs take off barking. I jump up, ready to run to him before remembering that it might not be him, so I grab my gun and move quietly.
But I don’t need to worry because I hear him talking to the dogs, allowing relief to wash through me. I set the gun down on a workbench just inside the garage and run over to him. “I nearly died.”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?” he teases as he wraps me in his arms and squeezes me tightly.
“Maybe. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Someone was watching the house so I had to wait until he was distracted enough that I could knock him out. Then I moved around in the forest for a bit to make sure I wasn’t being watched before returning. I’m good. I promise.”
“Okay,” I say as I hug him. “You got the flash drive?”
“Yeah, it’s clear someone had been digging around the house. All our shit is thrown around and searched through. It was pretty smart of you to put it in the fridge. Who looks for a flash drive in the fridge?”
“Remember that hateful comment about my 4.0 GPA?”
“Nope,” he says, even though there’s a smile playing at his lips that he is very clearly trying to hide.
“I gots the smarts,” I tease. “At least I think I do until you leave me alone and I lose my mind. Then Dave has to console me and force me to eat as I teeter on the brink of self-destruction.”
He’s clearly given up hiding the smile. “Ahh… well, I’m back now, and I don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon, alright?”
I squeeze him again and he kisses my cheek. “Okay.”
“Let’s get some sleep. I’m tired as hell.”
He takes my hand and I hesitate, unsure if we should walk in like this. I know Dave doesn’t seem to mind, but some people tolerate it as long as they don’t see it.
“Shepherd?” I ask.
“It’s fine,” he assures me as he tugs me after him.
And I really don’t want to let go of him, so I say, “Okay.”
When we walk into the living room, I see Dave isn’t at the couch where I left him, and I question if he went to bed before I hear him in the kitchen.
“Got a sandwich for you, Shepherd,” Dave says. “I’m waiting on my fed buddy to reply so until then, I’m off to bed. You two best get some sleep as well.”
“Thank you, Dave,” Shepherd says.
“Of course.” He heads off with Buddy at his heels as Shepherd grabs the sandwich and starts eating. Dave even has some juice set out for him.
“Man, I was hungry,” Shepherd says as he eats the rest of the sandwich before downing the juice. “Ready for bed? We’ll have to deal with all of this shit in the morning.”
“Ready,” I say as I head back with him.
I was already ready for bed, so I climb into the bed as I wait for Shepherd. Bear jumps up and curls into a ball at my feet as I stare at the glow coming from the bathroom light. When Shepherd comes in, he quietly shuts the door.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to strip here.”
He grins. “Fine, fine. I’ll keep my underwear on. Who knows if Dave is secretly a perv and has a little peephole watching us.”
“As long as it’s not a glory hole, I think we’re best off letting him do as he pleases.”
“Oh god,” Shepherd groans. “You took a simple joke and turned it disgusting.”
I have to admit, I love saying things that make even Shepherd groan. “Thank you,” I say as I pull him to me. Then I surround him in arms and legs so he can never escape. “You are not allowed to go anywhere alone again. I will be attached to you from here on out.”
“Deal.”
I squeeze him as I kiss his cheek and when he turns his head to me, I kiss his lips. “Why are you doing so much for me? Am I really worth this?”
“You’re worth so much more than this, Killian. I would do anything to make you happy.”
I shake my head. “You don’t need to do anything. Just being beside me is enough. I never need to ask for more.”
“Fine. Now what was this about you crying over my absence? Something about you giving up on everything in life just to set your eyes upon my charming mug again?”