Running Away

by Jen Andrews

XXXXOO, I miss you too. Call when you can. I’ll be patiently waiting, my beloved. : )

  I smiled, crammed my phone into my pocket, and hurried to the ER to find a full house. Happy freaking Monday! I sighed, wishing the weekend was still here and I was lounging around with Jeremy without a care in the world.

  By the time my lunch break rolled around, I was so flustered with how the day was going, I found myself doing a replay of Nat’s head banging on the table routine from several weeks back. When she and Jackie showed up for lunch, my head was still on the table. They dropped into chairs on either side of me.

  “Rough morning, Teagan?” Nat questioned. I raised my head and groaned which caused them to laugh at me.

  I took a deep breath in and let it out. “The ER is crazy today and it’s only going to get worse,” I said as I took my lunch out of the bag Jeremy had packed for me. A white piece of paper was taped to the top of the container. I pulled off the paper and unfolded it.

  My beloved,

  I wanted to tell you this was the best weekend I’ve had in a long time. I hope we have many more to come. Think of me while you enjoy your lunch. I’ll be thinking of you until I see you again.

  XX

  He didn’t sign the note with his name, and I was thankful for that. I didn’t want Cammie getting a hold of it. I folded the note back up and tucked it safely into my pants pocket.

  In my lunch container was a delicious looking turkey sandwich loaded with veggies. “Oh my God . . . yum,” I mumbled around a mouthful of sandwich. I closed my eyes and savored the deliciousness. Why do sandwiches always taste better when someone else makes them?

  Nat bumped my arm with her elbow to get my attention. “You got another one of those?” She nodded toward my sandwich.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone orgasm from eating a sandwich before,” Jackie said before bursting in to a fit of giggles.

  Nat snorted when she laughed at Jackie’s comment.

  “Assholes,” I teased before taking another bite. “Don’t hate me because my lunch is better than yours.”

  Jeremy had been so thoughtful to make my lunch for me. What a surprise. Something so simple, but it showed he cared about me.

  I quickly finished my lunch, and left my friends to call Jeremy. I had half an hour left, so I jogged out to my car and sat inside. His phone rang a few times before he answered, and when he did, he sounded like he had been running.

  “Hey there,” he said, out of breath. “How are you?” Over the phone, I heard many different noises from the shop. It sounded like they were busy.

  “I’m doing great.” The mere sound of his voice caused me to smile. “I just had the best lunch ever. How are you?” I sighed and patted my full belly, reclining my seat back to stretch out and relax.

  “I’m good. Glad to hear your voice finally. Do you have time to tell me what happened with Cammie?”

  “That’s why I’m calling.” I recapped Cammie’s and my conversation and I sensed he wasn’t happy about it.

  “Teagan, I wish you would let me talk to her. I hate that she’s lying to you about me. The only good thing is you know she’s lying since you were with me all weekend.”

  “I know. Jeremy, I’m sorry I told her Reese was my boyfriend, but I think if she sees him taking me to and from work after he gets here, it will keep her off my back and buy me more time to get another job. I feel like the biggest jerk right now, but she really caught me off guard with her stupid story about her weekend. I’m so sorry.”

  “Teagan, stop apologizing. None of this is your fault. The blame is all on me because I didn’t keep my dick in my pants before I met you. I’m sorry it’s affecting you because it shouldn’t be. I really think I should talk to her.”

  Listen to Nanna, Teagan. Trust in her. She’s never been wrong. Staring at the Claddagh ring on my finger helped ease my doubts about mine and Jeremy’s relationship.

  I glanced at my watch. “Jeremy, I need to get back to work. Can we talk about this again later?” Tears pricked my eyes. I felt terrible and wanted to go back inside the bubble with him and never leave.

  “Yeah,” he said morosely. “Remember what I said this morning, please. You mean so much to me and I can’t lose you over this.”

  He knew exactly what to say to make me feel better.

  “I’ll never forget, my boyfriend. I promise. I’ll see you tonight.”

  The rest of the day was mild, but at a quarter to five, one of the administrators entered the ER to make an announcement.

  “We need everyone working now to stay on shift for some overtime. We have a bus versus a delivery truck on Interstate Five, with an estimated twelve injured coming in about fifteen minutes. Call your families and let them know you’ll be home when you can.”

  Crap! Reese had already sent me a text saying he’d be at Jeremy’s in an hour. What was I going to do? I wanted to be there when he arrived because they didn’t know each other and I felt bad about changing where Reese was going to be staying at the last minute. I pulled my cell from my pocket and called Jeremy.

  He answered quickly.

  “Jeremy, I’m so sorry but something’s come up at work.”

  “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

  “I’m fine, but I have to work late because of a big accident on the freeway. I don’t know how long I have to stay here, so it’s just going to be you and Reese for a while,” I said. “I hope that’s okay.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, of course. Jesus, Red, you scared me. I thought something was wrong.”

  “Sorry for scaring you, but they only gave us time to call home to let our families know we wouldn’t be home for a while. Reese should be there long before I arrive.”

  He laughed deeply. “It’s no problem. I’m off work in a few minutes. We’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll see you later.”

  “You’re the most wonderful, perfect, sweetest boyfriend ever.” I meant every word. Once our call ended, I shot off a text to Reese letting him know he was on his own with Jeremy until they let us out of work.

  An hour later, I was knee deep in patients, charts, and concerned family members. While I ran to the supply room, I checked my phone and had a text from Reese.

  Hooker-face! This man is H-O-T! He gets the Reese Junior thigh poke of approval! Hurry home before I steal him from you. Kidding . . . this boy only has eyes for you. Does he have any gay brothers? Love you, girl.

  I laughed and replied to his text.

  No, sorry. No gay brothers. I’ll have to see about friends though. It’s going to be hours before I get out of here. Hope you boys can find something to do while you wait for me. Hands off my man! Love you too.

  By the time I made it to Jeremy’s house it was after nine. I knocked on the door and Jeremy answered right away.

  When he saw me, he smiled happily. “Why are you knocking, pretty girl?” He took my hand and pulled me through the door. “My girlfriend doesn’t knock . . . ever. She can come right in.”

  I was happy to see him and thrilled to be back at his house away from all the drama. I threw my arms around his neck and he lifted me up from the floor. I laid a steamy kiss on him and tasted tequila on his tongue. “I missed you today,” I murmured against his lips.

  After I locked my legs around his waist, he carried me into the kitchen where I found Reese with a shot glass in his hand. Jeremy set me on the countertop and moved away so I could reunite with my friend.

  As soon as Jeremy backed away, Reese was in front of me pulling me into a tight bear hug. “I missed you so much hooker-face.” Reese squeezed all the breath out of me. “The apartment just wasn’t the same without my snuggle buddy.” He let out a long sigh and embraced me again.

  I looked over at Jeremy and he was smiling at us. I knew right then he wasn’t worried about the comment Reese had made. “I’ve missed you too, Reese. I miss you kicking my butt at the gym every day. I really do. Even those crunches you forced me to do.”

  Jeremy stepped
forward. “Why don’t you two go get caught up while I fix you something for dinner, Teagan. We already ate,” he said.

  “Actually, I’d kill for a shower, so if you boys can hang out for a bit longer without me . . . and I’d love dinner too.”

  Jeremy turned to the fridge and pulled out a container. “Is spaghetti good with you, Teagan? It’s what we ate.”

  Oh, that sounded delicious. “Absolutely, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since that sandwich you made me for lunch.”

  “Let me get this straight,” Reese said, shaking his head. “He fixes you lunch, dinner, treats you like the princess you are, and he’s h-o-t. Are you sure he doesn’t have any gay brothers?”

  Reese and I laughed as Jeremy shook his head and turned to the sink to fill a pot with water. “No gay brothers, sorry, man. You’re outta luck.”

  Jeremy was clearly amused by Reese.

  I hopped off the counter, kissed the cheeks of two of my favorite men, and headed to the shower.

  My body was exhausted from my long shift in the ER, but the hot water revived me a little. Since I’d had to work late unexpectedly, I’d had no time to go to my house to get more clothes. Fortunately, I tended to over pack when it came to bras, panties, and socks so I had enough to last me a couple more days.

  I pulled some boxers out of Jeremy’s dresser and then found a black T-shirt in his closet that had James Racing across the back. The shirt hit me about mid-thigh, so the boxer shorts were barely visible, but this was all I had to wear. I pulled the towel off my head and combed through my drying hair, then went back to the kitchen.

  After dinner and visiting, Reese decided he was ready to go to bed after his long day of traveling. I was exhausted too, so we said goodnight, and he went to the guest room and closed the door. Jeremy and I hadn’t discussed sleeping arrangements for when Reese was here, other than he was not sleeping with me.

  Jeremy was in his bathroom when I entered his bedroom and crawled into his bed. A few minutes later, he came out wearing his pajama shorts. “If Reese could see you now,” I joked, as I looked him over. He really was H-O-T, as Reese liked to say.

  “I like seeing you in my shirts,” he said, while pulling the extra blanket off the footboard of the bed.

  I sat up and modeled it for him. “So, this is where you work, huh?”

  He nodded then asked, “Do you mind if I stay with you instead of on the couch?”

  “I would be honored if you’d sleep with me, Jeremy,” I teased. I’d be thrilled if we were naked too.

  He smirked and laid down on top of the covers, then situated the blanket over him and faced me.

  I wished he felt comfortable enough to be under the covers with me, but I knew he had his reasons, so I didn’t push him. I leaned over and kissed him. “Goodnight, Jeremy.” I turned off the lamp and laid back down.

  “Goodnight,” he whispered from the darkness.

  As soon as he was asleep, I slipped out from under the covers and eased under his blanket with him. I had missed our closeness all day and wanted to be wrapped in his warmth. I slid my arm over his side, nestled against him, and fell instantly to sleep.

  Teagan thought she was being sneaky by slipping under my blanket with me after assuming I was asleep, but I wasn’t. I let her though because I simply wanted to revel in the fact she was still here, and she would be for an entire week.

  The first night she’d stayed with me when she’d been drunk, I didn’t think I slept all night. I’d been too worried about her waking up and freaking out. Like a creeper, I’d watched her most of the night. When I’d woken after dozing off the next morning, I had been pissed and disappointed to find she’d left.

  Now everything was being cleared up between us, I knew she wouldn’t leave me again. I was happy she was staying here. I loved the fact she wanted to be near me, because I sure as hell wanted to be near her.

  Unfortunately, I was sharing her for the next week, but she was still staying with me, and I wasn’t going to complain. When she and Reese moved into their apartment together, I would probably feel differently, though.

  As it turned out, Reese was a cool guy, and like a big brother to Teagan. When he arrived at my house, he came right up and introduced himself.

  Lying in bed, with my arms wrapped protectively around my gorgeous redhead, I thought back to the conversation Reese and I had had about Teagan during dinner.

  “Gary grabbed her and held her down on the bed by her neck,” Reese said. “She convinced me that it didn’t hurt her physically, but he still scared her enough that she felt defenseless against him if he were to try anything else.”

  My anger had reached a boiling point by the time he’d finished his sentence. “I want to fly to Denver and beat the hell out of that guy.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry, Teagan can take care of herself now. She took one of my self-defense classes and was very good at it.”

  I had a lot of respect for Reese and trusted him completely. He cared about her as much as I did, and I appreciated it. I knew she would be safe with him, and was safe because of him.

  I woke the next morning to my two houseguests trying to wake me up in a very unconventional way.

  Pretending to be asleep, I tried my hardest not to laugh at what they were doing.

  “Thisss . . . is the honey badger,” Reese said in the gayest voice I had ever heard. “Watch him sleeping all sexy-looking in his pajama shorts. Look at him, he just doesn’t give a shit. He is dead to the world. Honey badger appears to be in hibernation. Typically, the honey badger hibernates for around eight hours per night, but not this particular breed. He definitely doesn’t need his beauty sleep.”

  Teagan was giggling quietly, and I was dying, trying not to laugh. Reese’s commentary grew louder.

  “This honey badger needs to come out of hibernation soon so he can go out into the world in search of snacks. Look at that sleepy fuck. He just doesn’t give a shit. Come on, wakey-wakey, honey badger!”

  One of them poked me in the ribs, and I couldn’t take it anymore. “Honey badger is awake, and you’re both lunatics.” I groaned and rolled onto my back. “I’m so happy my sleeping habits amuse you.” God, it was like living with my brothers when we were kids.

  Luckily, I’d watched the hilarious honey badger videos on YouTube, so I was able to play along. “Honey badger wants to know if this is how you’re going to treat your host for the next week. ’Cause if so, honey badger don’t take no shit from houseguests and you’ll have to do all your—”

  The next thing I knew, Teagan tackled me.

  “No, honey badger!” she squealed. “Your houseguests are good badgers, not those nasty-ass mean badgers. Please, don’t throw us out. We promise to be good, sweet honey badgers from here on out.”

  I laughed as she peppered kisses all over my face causing my morning wood to come back full force. Thank God she was lying on top of me, hiding it, but I knew she felt it when she pressed herself against me and gave me a very sinful grin.

  All of a sudden, Reese laughed and yelled out “Honey badgers love Teagan sandwiches!” and jumped on top of Teagan, squishing her in between us on the bed.

  These two were nuts, and between them, I had over three hundred pounds on top of me. I groaned as I tried to breathe, and my dick was being crushed under the weight.

  “Honey badger needs you to get up. You’re smashing his prickety-prick, and he can’t breathe,” I said in between gasps.

  “This honey badger kicks ass!” Reese yelled and rolled off Teagan, landing on his back on the floor, laughing uncontrollably. “We should get shit-faced and watch honey badger videos tonight.”

  Finally, I could breathe. Jesus, that dude had to weigh two hundred pounds. Teagan stayed where she was and rested her cheek on my chest as she laughed. I caressed my fingertips up and down her back. “Are you ready to run?” I asked them.

  They both said yes, so I rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom, grabbing my running s
horts on the way. When I came out, they were camped out on my bed still talking in honey badger mode. “You are freaks. Now let’s go run so you can make me breakfast when we get back.”

  Later that morning I arrived at work, still laughing at how Teagan and Reese had woken me up. I cringed when I thought about what they might do to me tomorrow. Those two living in the same house spelled trouble for me, although, very entertaining trouble.

  I walked down the hallway past the office and saw Zoey already at her desk. Usually she came in later in the morning. I poked my head through the door. “Hey, Z, you’re early today. Everything okay?”

  She spun in her chair to face me. “Yeah, I wanted to get this paperwork done early today. I’m going to take Hannah with me to get a mani-pedi. Maybe get her nails painted.” She grinned as she looked over at my Sweet Pea, who was in the crib across the office playing with a stuffed unicorn.

  I went over to her crib, and she raised her arms for me to pick her up. “Look at my big girl, sitting up and playing by herself,” I said, picking her up. “Baby girl, you need to stop growing. You’re getting too big, too fast.” Hannah put her hand over my mouth to play our game and I kissed it.

  “Someone’s looking awfully happy today,” Zoey said with a hint of curiosity.

  I grinned from ear to ear. “Because someone is happy today, that’s why. Teagan is still staying with me. Her friend Reese moved to town and is staying at my place until their apartment is ready.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Is Reese a guy or a girl?”

  “Don’t worry, he’s gay, so it’s all good. He’s her best friend, and seems like a good person, Z.”

  Zoey smiled happily. Two of her best friends, Justin and Will were gay and she adored them.

  “Hey, do the three of you want to come out with us on Friday night, Jer? Hooligans bought an awesome karaoke system, and they’re having a big party that night. They invited all of us to come and test it out. Wanna go?”