When I woke up this morning, Ben was lying beside me, turned to face me, smoothing my hair out of my eyes. Smiling that quiet little content smile that he has.
Our boy hit the ground running today, he says. We might have to tie him up to get him through the rest of the day.
I sit up and Ben explains that Lochlan got up early and went to see Caleb to probably tell him to fuck off. That vague threats parlayed through Bridget weren't going to be acceptable under any circumstances. Enough already.
You went with him?
No, he whispered all this at me before he even left.
Did anyone go with him?
Not to my knowledge.
Ben! Did he come back? Has anyone checked on Caleb? Jesus! You know better! I jump out of bed.
He's an adult and so is Caleb. If they were going to kill each other they could have done it ten times over. Let them sort out their issues with each other by going to the ground a few times. Maybe they can get it out of their systems.
Someone gets really hurt every time they do this.
Yeah, but who are you running to save?
Caleb's bigger-
Yes, and he's the one who somehow holds back and takes the hit. He hasn't hurt Lochlan yet. So I don't worry anymore.
What if he does? You assume a lot but maybe he's waiting for the perfect time. You weren't there when he had his gun out-
Bridget, he's not going to do anything.
He has a GUN-
Okay, let's go. Because running into a volatile situation when you know things are tenuous is the best plan you and I have ever had.
No, that was getting married. I'm pulling on yesterday's clothes as fast as I can while I try to be sweet to Benjamin on the fly but he's decided he waited too long. That or opening my eyes just incites fear all by itself these days.
We run to the Boathouse, falling up the stairs to find-
Wait for it-
Caleb and Lochlan enjoying a whiskey out front, leaning against the railing, side by side, watching the sea while they have a quiet conversation.
The look on both their faces right before the surprise registers at our rush to get to them is victory. Yes, both their faces. Which I see right away and Ben doesn't see at all.