Come surrender your hidden scarsI'm still alive and possibly my liver is so wrecked and battered I'll never ever have to worry about waking up in a hotel room in pain and covered with mysterious, bloodied bandages because the organ traffickers will now forever pass me by.
Leave your weapons where they are
You’ve been hiding
But I know your wounded heart
And you don’t know how beautiful you are
Also my husband gave me the death stare upon my return because I was still drunk and slid quite ungracefully into his arms. He asked if I was done and told me to go up to bed. That he was going to talk to Caleb and that he'd be up in a minute. I performed one of my most glorious and well-known princess-maneuvers (passing out face down and yet still fully clothed) and Ben never came up.
Legend has it he and the Devil spent the night sitting on the front porch talking about all the things that are never going to happen again, like surprise work trips to do stupid things like plan decorating for a house when it could be done from home, or taking Bridget away from her safety nets when she's just about to leap off the platform to perform her act.
AKA it wasn't a good time.
(She's fragile)
Caleb bristled at this. He knows me as well as anyone. He's perfectly capable of looking after me. How dare they insinuate that he's in over his head or clueless?
Come out here, Bridget.
(Because I woke up at 4 and no one was there. I found them all out front on the porch, lights blazing. Loch is sitting on the steps facing away but listening. Ben and Caleb are each in a chair.) Loch just got in as well from his trip (see how Caleb operates? He stole my soul once and left a big pink cone of cotton candy in its place) and when I stepped outside Loch moved so fast to jump up and cross the porch to put his arms around me you would have thought he had built a time machine after all.) Caleb ignores this and keeps talking.
Did I harm you while we were away, Neamhchiontach?
No, Diabhal.
Did I get two separate rooms at the hotel?
Yes.
What did we do while we were at the lake?
Planned the decorating for the house with the design teams.
Which part did you enjoy the most?
Choosing paint colors and appliances.
Why?
I like it. I'm good at it.
So you feel confident in your abilities?
Yes. I nod from Lochlan's shoulder. He is shaking almost imperceptibly.
Tell me what you didn't like about the trip, Bee. Ben's voice is soft. It's okay.
You and Loch weren't there. I don't sleep when I'm alone. That's why I'm up right now.
Ben looks so relieved I almost cry on the spot but the hangover has dried me up and made me wince with every breath.
We're here now, baby, and you're not going anywhere without us for a good long time. He keeps glaring at Caleb. It takes an awful lot to piss Ben off. I think Caleb has finally discovered the line he can't cross and he is surprised, taken aback.
Can we go to bed then? I'm still drunk. I laugh. I can't help it. Shame makes me petulant and boastful.
Calebs' voice cuts through the darkness like piano wire. I'm sorry, Bridget. I was heavy-handed in getting you away. I'm sorry to both of you as well, Ben and Loch for taking her without permission.
Like I am a car he jacked.
(Drive it like you stole it.)
Snort.
Loch doesn't say a word, he wraps his hand around the back of my neck and steers me into the house, up the stairs and down the hall to bed where I fall into bed again, dreaming of trying to swim in a sea of paint chip cards back to shore, where Ben and Lochlan wait for me in the dunes but Caleb has his hands around my ankles and he won't let go so I can't get anywhere.