Sage

Sage

Once we got home, we’re barely inside the house for ten seconds before it hits. That intuition that every woman gets before the actual feeling of what comes next. I change directions, heading straight for the hallway bathroom and curse when I confirm.

Shark week.

Thankfully, I have some tampons stashed in here and am able to take care of that side of things, but I know the cramps, bloating, and overall misery will set in soon enough.

When I make my way out of the bathroom, Trevor is leaning against the kitchen island shooting off a text when he smiles and turns to face me. One look at my pout has his eyebrows dipping.

“What’s wrong?”

“My uterus is being a psycho bitch because I didn’t give her a baby so she’s making herself bleed.”

Trevor blinks several times before he nods.

“You’re on your period.”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“Not even remotely, but that’s okay. I’ll get the provisions,” he says as he fires up the tea kettle while grabbing most of my go-to snacks.

In less than two minutes, Trevor’s arms are full with an electric blanket, heating pad and snacks. I can’t help but laugh at him as he gives me a soft smile.

“Couch or bed?”

“Couch,” I say as I walk over with him, sitting down before he practically buries me alive.

“Thank you, Trev.”

He rolls his eyes like it’s a given before grabbing his keys.

“Where are you going? We just got home.”

“Let’s be real, if not tonight at some point you’re going to want movie popcorn. So I’m saving myself the trip for later.”

“Isn’t that why we have henchmen now? Have them do it.”

Trevor laughs and shakes his head.

“We have them to keep you safe. They are in their car outside if you need anything. I’ll be back in fifteen.”

He comes over to give me a kiss when I make him pause, smiling up at him as I wrap my hand around the back of his neck.

“You’re too good to me, you know that, right?”

“Definitely not. You deserve a hell of a lot better than I can give you, but I’m gonna do my best to try to be worthy of you.”

Butterflies still manage to race through me, even after the months we’ve been together, and I can’t help but grin as he presses his lips against mine. He gives me a series of short pecks that have me giggling and him winking.

“Be right back.”

I wave to him as I grab the remote and flip something onto the TV. I’m only watching the screen for a few minutes when my phone starts ringing. I grab it and pause momentarily when I see who is calling me. I answer it quickly, my pulse skyrocketing as I speak.

“Calista?” I ask.

“Hey sweetie,” she says, a watery sound to her voice.

“Where have you been? I haven’t heard from you in weeks! What’s going on down there.”

I hear her let out a staggered breath before a door shuts, and she speaks in a hushed tone.

“We aren’t in Santa Fe.”

“Okay? Where are you?”

“On the road somewhere outside San Antonio. Shit went down about a month ago. I was laying low, not reaching out much because he almost caught me on the phone with you. I didn’t want to risk it but then out of nowhere he flipped a switch. It was like he sobered up enough finally to realize you were gone and went ballistic.

“He killed a prospect, beat me to shit because I told him I didn’t know anything and almost killed Hammer. He shot him right in the gut and somehow that big oaf was still able to fireman carry me out of there. We got on our bikes and rode until he couldn’t sit up any longer. He had to have surgery, and when we were discharged, we kept driving some more.”

“Holy fucking shit. Are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine, it’s you that I’m worried about. I think he’s gonna be coming for you.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured when a couple of goons tried to grab me the other day.”

“Shit. I should have called sooner. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. Trevor’s house is like a fucking fortress, and he hired two muscle men to watch over me until this shit dies down.”

“Who is Trevor?”

I let out a laugh. Holy shit, has my life changed over the last few months.

“Remember that quarterback I told you about?”

“The super douche?”

I can’t help but cackle at that.

“That’s the one. Well, I sorta love him now.”

“Sorta?” she echoes.

I nod even though she can’t see me. “And we’re dating. Er, I guess that’s a little too casual. If he was a biker, I’d already be wearing his cut by now.”

“No shit? You settled down with a richy-rich preppy boy?”

Smirking, I look around the house as I shake my head.

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

Before she can say more, a piercing sound goes off in the house. I stand up instantly, my stomach instantly turning as I walk to the security room. It has all the camera footage and alarm data for the house inside like something out of an action movie. I look over to the front gate camera when my mouth drops open, and the world around me stills for a moment.

“Oh fuck.”