Chapter Seven
Greta
THIS WAS THE CHAOS I didn’t want yesterday, and I wasn’t even up for it today.
Meg and Bristol were in the kitchen cooking some more delicious food while everyone else was scattered around my house. I was hiding out in the bathroom for the moment, trying not to fall asleep while I took a pee.
I loved having a huge family, but sometimes, it was just nice to be alone.
Even if you had to find that alone time in the bathroom.
“Greta.”
I lifted my head and about fell off the toilet at the sound of Bear’s voice. I hadn’t expected him to be back ‘til after dinner. “Uh, yeah?” I called.
“You okay, mama?” he asked through the door.
Now that he had called me mama, I was perfect. “Yup. Just going to the bathroom and trying to get a second to myself.”
“I can see why you would need that.”
I laughed and finished up my business on the toilet. I flushed and quickly washed my hands. “Are they all still out there?” I asked. I grabbed the towel and pulled open the door.
Bear was posted up against the door frame with his ankles crossed and arms over his chest. “I didn’t realize you could fit that many people in this house.”
I laughed and sighed. “You would be surprised.”
“You sure you’re, okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “As good as can be. Meg has been feeding me all day, and Luna has been watching me like a hawk.”
“Taking your pain pills?”
I shrugged. “I took one this morning, and I was going to take one before dinner. I don’t want to take too many.”
“You in pain?” he drawled.
I held up my finger and thumb about three inches apart. “About that much.”
He shook his head and reached for my hand. He pulled me toward my room and opened the door. “You’re not taking too many if you’re still in pain after taking them, mama.” He grabbed the bottle off the dresser and twisted off the top.
I sat down at the foot of my bed and sighed. I would kill to be able to lay down and not have to get up for the rest of the night. Not that I had really done much all day, but I was still exhausted. “How was your day?”
Bear twisted the top back on the pills and grabbed the half-empty bottle of water next to my bed.
“Not very eventful.” He handed me the pills and took the cap off the water.
“I don’t know if that is a good thing or not.” I popped the pills into my mouth and washed them down.
“Went over to Dr. Lu’s to check his place out and formed a plan for tomorrow.”
I handed him back the bottle and ran my fingers through my hair. “Find anything good?” Something like an exact map of where we could find him. That would be amazing.
He shook his head and stepped back. “Not really. Ransom and your dad helped me dig around, but nothing.”
“My dad?” I sputtered. “How did that happen?”
Bear laughed and set the bottle on my dresser. “Not really sure, but your dad is not a fan of Ransom or me.”
That was not surprising. Ransom was a cop, and Bear was, well, Bear was Bear. The guy who was staying at my house with me. “He grunts and grumbles a lot?” I joked.
“Yeah,” Bear chuckled. “It was fine, though. We got through the place faster than if it would have been just Ransom and me.”
I sighed heavily and felt my eyelids start to droop. “I think I’m just going to close my eyes for a second,” I muttered.
Bear chuckled and stepped toward me. “Whatever you want, mama.”
I started to fall back, but Bear scooped me up in his arms and moved to the head of the bed. He pulled back the covers and laid me down. “No shoes you need to take off this time,” I joked.
He smiled down and pulled the covers over me. “Get some rest.”
“Only for a few minutes,” I promised. “Meg is making taquitos and nachos for dinner. I don’t want to miss it.”
“I’ll come wake you up when it’s done, mama.”
I smiled drowsily and closed my eyes. “I really like when you call me that,” I whispered.
He brushed my hair from my face, and I felt his lips brush against my forehead. “Sleep, mama.”
So, I did.