Chapter 18
McKenna
My eyes open at the sound of the shower shutting off. I don’t bother to get out of bed. Instead, I just lie here staring up at the ceiling as I try to process what’s happened in the last twenty-four hours. Gramps had a heart attack, and I slept with my best friend’s brother, who just also happens to be one of my best friends.
“Hey, you feeling better?” Rip’s deep voice pulls my attention.
He’s standing just in the doorway of the bathroom. There’s a white towel tucked around his narrow waist, water dripping down the planes and valleys of his abs, and another towel in his hand as he dries his hair. He’s all tanned and toned, and my every fantasy. “Yeah. Food and sleep do wonders for a person.”
He chuckles softly. “I talked to Agnes. He’s doing well. I told her we were coming back. She’s going to leave when we get there and go home and get some rest.”
My heart swells in my chest, so much so, it makes it hard to swallow. He’s such a good man. “Thank you,” I croak.
He gives me a nod as his cell phone rings. I watch his every move as he makes his way across the room and to the opposite side of the bed to pull it off the charger. “Hey, Lara,” he greets his sister.
“Yeah, he’s going to be okay.” He gives me a small smile. “She is too. She just woke up from a nap. We’re going to head back to the hospital in a little while.” He’s quiet as he listens, and then his smile broadens. “Of course I’m taking care of her. She’s my girl.”
“What?!” I hear Laramie scream.
He listens, the smile still pulling at his lips. “No, little sister, it wasn’t just a really good dream. We’re together.” His voice is lower, husky even as he says those two words. His big brown eyes bore into mine, and I fight the urge to stick my head under the covers and hide. I can’t though. His gaze is like a magnet, and I can’t look away.
We’re together.
“Okay. We’ll see you all tomorrow.” He ends the call and walks toward the bed. He bends his head and presses his lips to mine. “I’m going to go make us something to eat. After you shower, we’ll head back to the hospital.”
“Rip?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“We have to talk about this.”
He links his left hand with mine. “I know we do, but right now, all you need to worry about is your grandfather. I’m not going anywhere.” He kisses the back of my hand.
“We can’t just ignore this.”
“Go shower, so we can go see your gramps.” He kisses me quickly, just a peck, and disappears into his closet. He comes out wearing a pair of cargo shorts and a Callahan Farm T-shirt. He smiles at me softly, points to the bathroom, and disappears.
I lie here in his bed, listening as his footsteps carry him down the stairs. I feel as though I’m in a different universe. He can’t seriously think that us being together because of one night is a good idea. My parents were together for months and when I came along, it all came crashing down. We can’t rush into this. Ugh. Tossing off the covers, I see my suitcase at the end of the bed and dig out some clothes.
In the bathroom, the hot spray does wonders for my aching shoulders. I’m never drinking again. Ever. The pounding in my head is reason enough. However, if I needed one more, it would be that I slept with Rip and can’t remember it. That’s not something I would ever want to forget. I take my time in the shower, enjoying the spray of the jets and the massage they’re providing. My mind goes to Rip and our night together. I hate to admit it, but I’m disappointed that I don’t remember our first time. Not because of the meaning of the night. However, I do wish I could remember what it felt like to have him hover over me, all those muscles, my hands roaming his body as he pushes inside me. I shake out of the thought. My first time with him and my drunk ass can’t remember it.
He’s saying that we’re together every chance he gets, and I want that. I want it more than anything, but I also don’t want this to be rushed. I don’t want either of us to have regrets in this, and I don’t ever want to feel as though I’m his obligation. I know that I need to get out of my own head, and I know without a shadow of a doubt Maggie would tell me the same thing. I need to call her. Sure it’s a thrill to hear him refer to me as his girlfriend. It would be even more so if it were true. If only I knew how to get through his thick skull that he has no obligation to me. We slept together, that doesn’t mean he has to go all in. I know he thinks he’s ready, but it’s only been a few weeks. Things are happening at a rapid pace, and I just want to slow them down a little. I hate to admit it, but I might need Laramie’s help. I’m going to have to call her as soon as she gets home. Her text told me they were flying home today, cutting their trip short as well. I hate that for them, but I love her for it all the same.
I need my best friend.
Realizing I’ve been in here way longer than necessary, I shut off the water and step out. I make quick work of drying off and getting dressed. I rummage under the sink to find a hairdryer and do a quick dry of my hair before pulling it back into a ponytail. I don’t bother with makeup, knowing we’re going to the hospital, and the way my emotions are all over the place with Gramps and now this thing with Rip, it’s hard to tell when the tears will flow, but I’m pretty sure they will. That’s just how the day feels it might pan out.
When I make it to the bottom of the steps, the smell of bacon fills my senses. I love bacon! Turning the corner, I see Rip standing at the counter, assembling what looks like bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. “Hey, babe. Feel better?” he asks.
“Much. That smells good.”
He grins at me. “I know they’re one of your favorites. I thought it might help you feel better.”
I watch as he cuts the sandwich in half, adds some plain potato chips and a pickle spear to the paper plate, and slides it across the counter to me. “Thank you.” I wait for him to finish his own plate and take the seat next to me before I start to eat. We eat in silence until Rip breaks the ice.
“Laramie thought she was dreaming.”
“About?”
“Us being together. Apparently, she woke up telling Colby she could see the future, and she just knew we were destined to be a couple.”
“For real?” I ask.
“Yep. Colby called while you were in the shower.”
“So they know? I mean, that we got drunk and hooked up?”
“They know that we were all over each other.” He nods. “They don’t know that we’re together officially. Not yet.”
“What about Corbin and Sara?”
“I told them.”
“What? When? Why?” I rapid-fire questions at him.
“I told them while you were in the shower, and why not? Should I not be excited to tell my best friend that I’m in a relationship?”
“We’re not in a relationship, Rip.” I sigh. Already I can feel a headache coming on.
“We can be.”
Three words upturn my entire world. I take a deep breath and ignore my heart that seems to melt at his words. “Look, I know you have this sense of responsibility. I get it. You slept with your sister’s best friend, a good friend to you as well, but you don’t owe me anything.”