Page 158 of Here With Me

ChapterThirty-Three

Noah

As soon as Fisher was discharged from the hospital and Jase drove him home, Fisher packed a couple of bags and came to my house. I was still recovering, so instead of being apart, we bunkered in my room together and rested. He made me watch more vintage movies, and I educated him on the feud that inspired Taylor Swift’sReputationalbum.

One of her best eras, if I do say so myself.

“Wow...you’re stunnin’.” Fisher’s jaw drops when I attempt to do a spin in my bridesmaid’s dress. “And I’m one lucky man.”

Grinning, I hop closer, then pretend to wipe the drool from his chin. “Yes, you are.”

I’m still wearing the stupid boot for my ankle, but my six-week appointment is coming up to check if it’s healed enough to remove it. When moving around my house, I don’t use my crutches since my ribs don’t hurt as much, and I can hop without putting weight on my ankle.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to work. Landen and Tripp took over most of my clients since they’re already experienced, and Ayden reorganized the boarding scheduling so no new ones arrived. I’ve had to put a hold on the specialized ones like Delilah and Harlow. Ellie and Ranger are ready to get back to work, too. Once I’m cleared, I plan to get started again if my body can keep up.

“I was iffy about the color, but it’s grown on me,” I say, rubbing my palms down the silky basil-green fabric.

Fisher wraps his arms around my waist, closing the gap between us and burying his face in my neck. “It’s gorgeous on you, but I think I’d like it even better on the floor.”

I tilt my head as he kisses my neck and under my ear. “You’re killin’ me. Screw the weddin’. Fuck me instead.”

He chuckles against my skin. “I’m still on rocky ground with your father and brothers. No need to give them another reason to hate me by makin’ you miss the ceremony.”

Fisher and I haven’t gone beyond making out since we reunited, and I’m dying with anticipation for when he’ll finally realize I won’t break. Even though I’m no longer taking pain meds and only using an ice pack at night, he’s afraid it’ll be too much for me. No matter how many times I try to convince him I’m better, the fear that he’ll hurt me stops him from going further.

“They don’thateyou,” I reassure him.

Fisher was back on his feet within a few days, but when it was time for Sunday supper, we came clean to the rest of my family. Landen and Tripp didn’t seem as shocked by the news as the rest, which wasn’t surprising since they were around us the most. Waylon and Wilder are primarily at the retreat and are too absorbed with their own lives to notice anyone else’s.

My father rose to his feet, left the room, and returned with his shotgun.

Then he warned Fisher he wouldn’t be afraid to use it if he dared to hurt me.

We show up every Sunday and stay to scrapbook. Fisher even started a couples album even though we only have a handful of photos together. But it gives us something to look forward to as we take more pictures.

“I dunno about that. Landen shoots me theI’m watchin’ youfinger V-sign at least once a day. I swear, he’s just waitin’ for me to fuck up so he can kick my ass.”

I snort at his dramatics. Landen isn’t as muscular as Tripp, but he knows how to fight and is quick with his movements. I’ve seen him wrestle my brothers since I was a young kid, and he’s only gotten better and faster as he’s gotten older.

“He’s not gonna hurt ya,” I reassure him.

“Tripp keeps tryin’ to convince me to go to the Twisted Bull with them again, but then Waylon told me it was so they could get me back on the bull and see how long I’ll last before I pass out. I think they’re secretly hopin’ to kill me.”

“They won’t let the bull run longer than fifteen seconds, so I wouldn’t worry too much. They just want a reason to get drunk and be stupid. Not that they really need a reason...” I roll my eyes.

“I can’t wait for the day Landen finds a girlfriend and I get to return the treatment.”

I snort, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’ll be waitin’ a while. He doesn’t date. At least not since Angela broke his heart junior year. Now he just has...flings.”

“Isn’t he like twenty-six?”

“Yep. Four years older than me.”

“And he’s still distraught over a breakup from nearly ten years ago?”

I laugh because he’s right. It’s been almost a decade. “Well, after Angela was Layna, and she was the English teacher’s assistant his senior year. He’d never admit it, but I’m pretty sure they had an affair. Then he graduated, and she got engagedtothe English teacher.”

His eyes widen. “Jesus. He’s been traumatized.”