Vaughn: I tracked your phone and saw that you had made it there.
Vaughn: Eli still wanted to go kick the door down to be sure, but I convinced him that he would likely cause you a stroke if he pulled a Jason Voorhies and kicked the door down while you were sleeping.
Me: You are my diamond in the rough, V.Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Vaughn: Yeah, well, I'm still mad at you.I was worried as hell until I remembered I could track you.
Me: Would breakfast and coffees from Magnolia's put me back in your good graces?
Vaughn: I don't make promises before noon on Sundays, but coffee and breakfast certainly wouldn't hurt your case.
Me: Done.I'll bring all the favorites.
...................
Eli is scowling at me when I walk into the kitchen with the provisions in hand.I don my best 'I'm sorry and it will never happen again' face while holding up a coffee and his favorite bacon and egg sandwich.He looks at the haul and shakes his head slowly, so I raise my other hand, which is holding the clear jar of origami stars.He softens a little.He's intrigued.
"You could've been hurt, kidnapped, who knows what.You never should've asked us to stay inside.We could've waited with you."
"It will never happen again.I promise.I've learned my lesson, trust me."
Eli narrows his eyes in suspicion.
"And exactly what in the hell do you mean by that?"
"We can talk about it later.I'm fine.I made it home and now we can hang out and catch up.I missed you, BB."
He stares at me silently for a moment longer before that big smile consumes his face and he grabs me up in a hug.
"I missed you too, Evie Bear."
We finish breakfast and catch up with what has gone on for the three of us the past couple of months.Eli can't seem to wrap his head around the idea of me and Adam.Apparently, I'm the only person in all of Austin who didn't know who the legendary Adam Davenport was.
"I don't like him."Eli gruffs out.
Kissing him on the cheek, I tell him, "You haven't met him yet."
"You can't really think that I'll like this guy once I have a chance to meet him."
"I don't.Just making an observation."
Vaughn laughs from the kitchen.
The three of us pile up on the couch.Eli grabs V and places her in his lap, as he always does, and it feels so much like home.I love being here with two of the best people I've ever met.Eli joined the service as soon as he turned 18 so he could serve his country and protect those who couldn't protect themselves.I've seen him stick up for the underdog several times in the short time since we met, and Vaughn has told me countless stories of his bravery and his unwillingness to stand back and watch bad things happen, no matter the cost to himself.
They say opposites attract, and that holds true for Eli and Vaughn.While Eli does stand up for the little guy, he isn't the Big Bad Wolf.Eli is a teddy bear.Vaughn, on the other hand, is flame and fury.If she gets fired up, just point her in the right direction, and she's like a Roman Candle.A gorgeous, curvy weapon of mass destruction.She takes shit off of no one.They balance each other out, and together, they're exactly what I need.They're my best friends.We don't keep things from each other, and I know I have to tell them what happened last night.
Truthfully, I'm proud of myself.I went to a bar last night with zero protection and didn't even take my medication until...well until it was too late.But I did calm myself down once I got outside using my grounding techniques.Then, I faced down an attacker and I didn't just not panic.I thrived.I took that wannabe Jack the Ripper to the ground.I owned his ass.
Okay, deep breath.It's go time.
"So, about last night...I ran into a small situation after I left the party."
Eli's eyes narrow as V turns her head slowly back toward me.
"What constitutes a 'small situation', Evie?"Eli growls out.
"Just remember, I'm here.I'm okay.Barely a scratch on me."
