Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Three weeks later

This was it. Her first night alone and to say it wasn't going well was a gross distortion of the truth. Gage's boss was great about letting him take time off to spend with her, but his current assignment was unavoidable. The entire team was called to Boston to help Black and the other team that helped rescue her. She just wished she was confident enough in herself to be alone.

Dani paced through the living room, around the island in the kitchen, straightening the dining room chairs for the fourth time, but none of it was helping. She could feel herself spiraling. Feel the negative thoughts bringing her down. The need to take the edge off was growing by the minute.

Yanking her phone out of her back pocket, she pulled Gage's number up on the screen but hovered her thumb over the call button. He had said he would only ever be a phone call away but it was only a few hours since he left. How pathetic did it look that she couldn't even make it a couple hours by herself?

She turned the screen off and shoved it back in her pocket. She would find a way to get through this.

A lightbulb went off in her head.

Cleaning.

That would tire her out enough that she would forget all about spinning out of control.

Dani started in the kitchen. She scrubbed the kitchen counters until they gleamed. Next up were the cabinets. With meticulous precision, she polished each and every crevice. Then she tackled the oven and stove. Although considering how much of a clean freak Gage was, there was hardly anything to clean on those.

Dusting was next on the list. Most of the furniture in the house was new, so barely any dust accumulated, but that didn't stop her from making the house smell fresh.

By the time she finished vacuuming and scrubbing the floors, she was no closer to feeling better. Dropping onto her ass, Dani faced the fact that at some point over the last month, she had become dependent on Gage to help her through the rough days. He was her new addiction and she needed him. Even if it was just to hear his voice.

With a resigned sigh, she took her phone back out, but instead of just looking at Gage's name, she hit the button.

True to his word, he answered on the third ring.

"Hey! Is everything okay?"

Several people were talking in the background and she could've sworn someone called out his name but Gage didn't respond to them, and the noises slowly faded away.

"Just wanted to hear your voice." The crack in hers gave her away. "I'm sorry I interrupted whatever you have going on."

Now she felt silly. He was likely preparing to save someone, and here she was, pulling him away from it because she couldn't even make it one night on her own.

"Don't apologize." He mumbled something to someone on his side of the phone. "I told you I would always answer your call and I meant it. Now tell me what you're feeling."

She took a deep breath in and released it slowly just like her therapist showed her. "I'm feeling lonely and want something to take the edge off. I tried cleaning. By the way, our house is now spotless, but it didn't help. My mind keeps spiraling and the little voice in my head keeps telling me I can't do this."

It was so damn hard admitting she was weak. But Gage wanted her to communicate better and she wanted to do that for him. It would only make them stronger.

"I appreciate you deep cleaning the house. I'm sure it looks fantastic."

Dani chuckled as she looked around the kitchen. Every appliance was sparkling back at her.

"You could probably see our fridge from outer space, that's how much I shined it."

"I'll alert the space station so they don't think someone is trying to call them."

She laughed some more and instantly felt better. That was all it ever took. Gage had a way of helping her forget all her problems.

The doorbell ringing cut her laugh short.

"What the . . ."

"Answer the door for me, love."

Dani melted. It was rare he used that endearment with her; it was only when he wanted her to know how serious he was about something.

She moved to the door but looked out the side window before opening it. Standing there on the stoop were all of the wives. She was slowly realizing that they were better friends to her than she deserved.

"How did they . . ." She was too choked up to finish the question.

"I called in reinforcements. If I can't be there to keep you from being lonely, then I'll offer you the next best thing. I was going to suggest they stayed with you while I was gone but I didn't want to overstep."

Tears clouded her vision. Gage was always finding ways to take care of her.

"Open the door, love. Enjoy a nice ladies’ night and tell me all about it when I get back. I love you."

"I love you too," she sniffled. "Oh, and, Gage?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for always knowing what I need, even if I won't admit it myself."

"Anytime. Now have a great night. I love you with all my heart."

He hung up before she could say it back but she was too giddy to mind. Yanking the door wide open, she smiled when Bree threw herself at her and Addison held up a gallon of ice cream.

This was exactly what she needed. Game night with the ladies and ice cream floats. It was the perfect way to settle her mind and remind herself she was stronger than she sometimes gave herself credit for.