Page 110 of Mended Fences

The last sixdays had been nothing short of a dream.

Each night, I fell asleep with Elena in my arms. And each morning, I woke the same way. There was nothing else I needed in the world, other than maybe to press my lips to hers, slide my dick deep inside her.

Despite the urges that were always right there, simmering under the surface, we were rebuilding—this time, with a much more solid foundation, one built on mutual trust and respect and boundaries instead of the chaotic entanglement of desperate passion and unresolved issues. We’d danced dangerously close to the ledge before, letting our desires cloud our judgment, but now we were forging a different path. Gone were the impulsive nights fueled by reckless abandon and the shadows of my past that had lingered too long. This time, everytouch held purpose; every whispered promise echoed with sincerity.

I loved her even more now than I had then.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t hole up in her house and talk, cuddle, and watch movies all day, every day—despite how much we both would have loved to. Elena was working hard at the hospital, and I was juggling meetings, lessons at the resort, and my nightly cleaning duty at the cidery.

I’d even managed to save up a little money—money I’d put aside for a very special purchase. One I’d make as soon as possible.

This afternoon, I was doing my part to contribute to our household. I’d all but moved in after Christmas, so the least I could do was grab groceries between shifts. I wandered the produce section of Harbor Pantry, our small local grocery store. I had my earbuds in, listening to theUntoxicated Podcastbased on a recommendation from Jackson. It dealt a lot with how intimacy and addiction intersect, and exploring recovery-related relationship challenges. Elena had even listened to a few episodes with me, and her support—her willingness to meet me where I was—was humbling.

My cart rammed into the banana display as I was jostled by an arm slung around my shoulders. I reared back in time to see an unwelcome face. Jared’s mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear what he was saying with the podcast still playing in my ear. I plucked the AirPods out while simultaneously shrugging off his extremely unwanted touch.

“Oh, shit.” He chuckled. “Did you hear me?”

“No, but no need to repeat yourself. I’m not interested.”

Jared scowled. “Come on, dude. Don’t be like that.”

“I’m. Not. Interested.”

“Such a fuckin’ pansy, whipped by some hot doctor pussy.”

Before I did something stupid, like break his fucking jaw, I abandoned my cart by the bananas and hustled out of the store.

When I was just a few steps from the door, I heard Jared laugh and shout, “If you change your mind, New Year’s party is at Cody’s tonight!”

The harsh winter wind whipped at my face the moment the automatic doors whooshed open, and I stepped toward Main Street. Fortunately, my destination wasn’t far. I zipped my Carhartt up to the neck and booked it across the street, making it to Callaghan’s in under sixty seconds.

I pushed through the door and let my eyes adjust to the dim bar light. This place had once been a second home to me; I spent the better part of my week ponied up to this bar and even passed out a few times right on its sticky surface.

Kai was behind the bar with his back to me. I stepped up and knocked my knuckles twice against the wood top. He turned and raised a surprised brow. “What can I do for you, Chase?”

My eyes scanned the liquor bottles behind the bar while Kai’s narrowed in on me.

I swallowed hard. “Meeting?”

In an instant, his shoulders dropped. He placed the glass he’d been polishing behind the bar and tossed his rag toward the sink.

“We’re closing early,” he shouted. There were only three people here this early in the afternoon, and they were all regulars. “You can settle your tabs tomorrow. God knows you’ll all be here.”

His jab was met with laughter; a year ago, I’d have been sitting right next to them, laughing along, too.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said as Kai rounded the bar. “I could have waited.”

“Nah, there’s a meeting in thirty at the hospital. If we leave now, we’ll make it. Let’s go.”

“How ya doin?”Kai asked as he drove us back to Sable Point after our meeting. Unfortunately, Elena had been with a patient when we passed through the ER to try to catch her, so I’d have to wait until tonight to give my girl a hug.

“I’m all right. He caught me off guard, more than anything. Then he just had to go and bring Elena into it.” I shook my head. “Guy’s such a fucking douche.”

Kai grunted in response. My bartender-turned-sponsor and likely-to-be-brother-in-law in the near future was a man of few words. But, despite my initial reaction to him and Charlie, he was good for her. Hell, he was good for me, too.

“Need me to drop you at the orchard?”

“Nah, I’ve been staying with Elena.”