Page 124 of Stay With Me

Later, assholes. Keep me updated if you hear anything about the robberies. I have an alibi.

Then I send a middle-finger emoji and put my phone on do-not-disturb mode.

By the time Magnolia wakes up, it’s well into the afternoon. Once her stomach feels better and she’s ready to try eating, I make her some peanut butter toast to see how she handles it. She manages to get it down, and I notice she’s not as pale as she was before.

“Hopefully it’s just a twenty-four-hour bug or something,” I say, sitting next to her on the couch after I grab her a fresh glass of water.

“I hope so. I’ve not felt this exhausted in ages. But I can’t keep skippin’ work.”

“Want me to go for you?” I muse, grinning. “I can’t make lattes or bake muffins, but I could pour a mean coffee.”

“Do you know how to use the coffee machine?”

“Do I not just press theonbutton?”

She snorts. “Yeah, after you grind the beans, measure them out, and insert the filter.”

“Hm. Guess I’ll stick to the ranch.” I chuckle, circling my arm around her shoulders. “If you need some cash to make up for your missed days, I?—”

“Don’t offer me money because I won’t be able to say no.”

I smile at her blunt honesty. “Then why wouldn’t I offer it?”

“Because I started my own business so I didn’t have to depend on anyone else. I just didn’t consider sick days. Which is stupid, I know.”

“No, you’re still a new business and it’s understandable you’d be worried about taking time off. But you can’t control when you get sick, so if you need help, at least take it from me. We’re a team now.”

She rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. “You’re too damn nice to me, Tripp Chattanooga,” she mutters like she’s going to pass out again.

I kiss her hair and hold her closer.

If only she realized I’d do literally anything for her.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Magnolia

“I’m baaaaack!” Noah singsongs into the phone when I answer it.

“About goddamn time! Do you know how long two weeks is? You were gone forever!”

“I know! I’ve never been disconnected for so long, and although it was so nice, I feel like I’ve missed so much.”

That’d be an understatement.

“I can’t wait to see you! I have so much to share,” I say as I stare at the boxes of pregnancy tests on my counter. After being sick all weekend and having a bad reaction to the smell of eggs, I need to double-check I’mnotknocked up for my own sanity before I see Tripp again. “Speaking of, have you heard about the robberies in town?”

“Yeah, I came back to a dozen texts from my brothers about it and some random car explosion. What the fuck was that about? I hope they catch him soon because now that everyone’s on alert, they’ll be keepin’ their shotguns close by and loaded.”

I chuckle because it’s true. “Hittin’ stores at night is one thing because you’re racing against time before the cops show up, but doing it in broad daylight when people are shopping is just askin’ to get shot.”

“Exactly what I said!” She laughs. “I can’t wait to show you all the photos I took. Even ran into a group of hot college guys and showed them my single bestie’s photos. Might’ve gotten some numbers for ya.”

I snort, picturing her doing just that. “And were any of ’em local?”

“From France, but theiraccents...” Her dreamy sigh has me giggling.

“You just want me to marry a French man so you can listen to him talk all day.”