Page 64 of Jase

The video call ended, causing me to growl. Kody turned, glancing over her shoulder as I stood.

“It would seem we have an uninvited dinner guest.”

She turned to face me. “Your friend?”

“Yeah.For now. His name is Rian. He has a twin named Rush, but I doubt he comes. Rush is…” I stopped, nearly rolling my eyes. “He’s pretty popular. He stays busy.”

“Oh. Maybe I’ll get to meet him some other time. I’ll just go get ready. Are we ordering in?”

I paused, letting Rian’s words sink in.

“How about you choose. What do you feel like doing? Do you want to go out?”

Kody stepped around the chair, lowering her gaze to the floor. Her brow was drawn in as if she were weighing her options and not really liking them.

“Do you think it’s safe?”

“I emailed last night to check in. We should be okay.”

She got quiet, running her finger through the holes of the 3D cast she now wore. I didn’t like how she was reacting. Her fear was very much still alive and real. Caution was good. Overwhelming anxiety was not.

“Kody.” I closed the distance, reaching for her good hand to hold in mine. The squeeze on my fingers had my stomach swarming with nothing short of butterflies. Fuck, I wanted her. I wanted to pin her down and taste her again. To hear her cry out and call my name. “I know a place you might like. It’s private and very nice. It’s the best of the best. Not just anyone can get in. There’s a back room that’s secluded from the open dining. I can make a few calls.”

“That sounds.” She stopped. “I don’t think I have anything to wear to a place like that.”

“I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you go get ready.”

It wasn’t a question. Her head gave a hard shake and her hand left mine. “No more clothes. I think I’d rather stay. It’s safer anyway.”

“You’ll be safe.”

“I said no.”

There it was—stubbornness, and it was about to get worse. “Just yesterday you gave me a hard time about going to the bakery a street over. Before that, it was our trip to the doctor for your hand. Then the store downstairs.”

“They could have brought it up. The bakery would have delivered.”

“What did your therapist say? I know there’s danger we have to be aware of, but you can’t keep yourself locked away in here. It’s not good for you.”

“You do. Besides, I feel better inside.”

My eyes narrowed. She no doubt had picked up things from my own conversation with Rian.

“You’re safe with me. And yes, I isolate myself. I was just reminded that it’s not good for me either. We need to get out for more than five minutes. An actual restaurant that’s safe will do us both good.”

“No new clothes.”

“There’s a dress code. If you don’t want to honor it, we’ll find somewhere else.”

“With privacy?”

For seconds I took in her determination. It wasn’t just a question. She was putting her foot down, and there was no way she was going to budge.

“You’re getting worse.”

“I am not.”

I pointed to the hall, watching as she kept her gaze on my face. “Go get dressed.”