I could seriously see myself living simply. Alone? That part I wasn’t so sure about.
Ever since I’d met Krew and Decker, fallen in love with them, my dream had been to build a life together—as a family. A messy, loud, beautiful kind of family. I could see it so clearly—one with late-night chats and breakfast on Sunday mornings. If only we’d been able to make that dream a reality. Sadly, it was too late for us. Too late for me, with only shattered dreams to look back on.
Get over it, Regi.
I shook off the illusion and rounded the back of the house. There, I discovered a small garden, fenced off by a short, white picket fence. How perfect.
So picturesque.
As I approached the garden patch, to my surprise, it wasn’t as small I had believed it to be. To grow my own vegetables had been another dream of mine, ever since I’d been living in the city, where the price of groceries wasn’t cheap. But I quickly learned that my thumb wasn’t as green.
I stepped past the three-foot barrier to get a better look at what was growing in the ground. Then an idea hit me. An omelet fit for two men, and me.
Spotting a small basket by the gate, I picked it up and began gathering the veggies I needed. There were several varieties of tomatoes, planted in two rows. Cucumber vines crawled up and over a tall white trellis, and I twisted a ripe one off.
An arch made of chicken wire stood tall enough for me to walk under. Leafy plants crawled up it, anchoring themselves with tendrils, and they were bursting with long green beans. I snapped one off, stared at it for a second, and took a bite of it. Fresh. Crispy. And so damn good. I gathered a few of those.
There were sprawling zucchini plants, and I grabbed one and placed it inside the basket. Frilly carrot greenery ran in a neat row, and beyond that were peppers of different shades, along with other vegetables I couldn’t identify.
My stomach rumbled, thinking of the hearty omelet that was going to satisfy my hunger, and I began gathering the rest of the veggies I needed. I’d bake the chocolate cake after I ate.
When I turned around, I startled—almost dropping the basket. Decker was standing silently by the house, watching me with such intensity.
“Jesus. You scared the crap out of me, Decker. Next time, make some noise.” I glared at him, planting a hand on my hip. “It’s creepy.”
His eyebrows winged up in surprise before they furrowed. “I did, but apparently, you were too busy playing with the plants.”
“Vegetables,” I corrected. “And I wasn’t playing. I’m going to make an omelet.” I bent down, both to ignore the man and the irritation radiating off him and to snag a carrot. I gently pulled up a dirty, four-inch orange rod out of the dark soil. “Perfect.”
“Are you done yet?” Decker growled, opening the gate. “We need to talk about your lack of sense on your safety, especially if you come out here, alone.”
“Then talk.” I still didn’t bother looking at him.
“I told you not to go outside in case there are snipers.”
“Umm… What?” I straightened and turned to him in confusion. “You said no such thing to me.”
“I know damn well what I said to you,” he snapped. “Again, you’re not listening. It’s dangerous out here—or did you forget everything I told you in the truck? Jesus, Regi. When did you become so?—”
I shot my arm out, and raised a finger to stop him from saying anything further. “Whatever you’re about to say, better think twice.” I glared at him.
“Care-less,” he emphasized with a snarl.
“When did you tell me all these rules? When I was asleep in the back seat of the truck?” My chin tilted up in defiance.
Anger radiated off Decker as he glared at me. I swore if he clenched his teeth any tighter, they would crack.
“I haven’t been out here that long, Deck. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going to make a vegetable omelet that could save lives.”
Decker wouldn’t move. “You have a death wish or something?”
Or something.
Decker eyed the dress I was wearing and the full basket clutched in my hand. “Is your life worth these vegetables?” He picked up the carrot and tossed it back in.
“Why are you being such a prick to me?” I countered, trying to be brave, but my stomach began to churn. “You haven’t told me anything about safety or that I couldn’t go outside. I’m cooped up in this house with nothing but to stare at the walls for entertainment. You took my phone away in case someone might track us.”
“It’s all for your safety.” He ground out.
