Sometimes a life of luxury had its downsides. I was sure that most people could find ways to keep them busy when things were stressful. Things to clean, to organize, to cook. However, Roman’s staff had that all handled. At one point in the morning, I found myself pacing around, trying to find something to clean and there was nothing! How was it that I was bored enough to clean and there wasn’t anything to do?

I took a nap at one point, but disturbing flashes that I couldn’t even remember when I woke made me unable to. My phone chirped. I looked to it with hope, but saw the unknown number label and muted it. If only Roman could get an early day off at work, maybe things would be better.

The two of us exchanged the occasional text message, but it was mostly just checking on one another.

Did you have breakfast? He asked in response to my good morning text.

I did. Did you? I replied.

Not yet. It’s a pretty crazy day. Are you still at the house? He texted.

I am. The bodyguards seem... cuddly. I replied.

They’re meant to be intimidating, Hannah. He wrote.

I replied, I know, I know. I just miss you. Any chance of getting home early?

It’s not looking good at the moment, but I’ll let you know if it changes, he texted.

I love you, I texted.

I love you too, he replied.

Eventually, I walked back into the den and watched the two bodyguards who seemed to be glued to the cameras. I couldn’t believe they weren’t squirming or pacing or anything. They both sat with their hands folded and eyes fixated on the screens. I wondered why they weren’t just in the security, but I supposed it made sense for them to be near me, and near the main entrance. After too long in silence, I called over. "Sorry, I’m not sure I caught your names?"

"I’m Kane," one with long brown hair called over.

"Leslie," the other responded.

I propped my head up as I studied them. "What got you two into security?"

They exchanged looks and then panned back over to me. I was curious if they would answer honestly, or give me some sort of silly, half-baked answer.

"The military," Kane stated.

"A passion for curb stomping," Leslie replied.

Their voices were so flat and without emotion, it was impossible for me to say whether or not they were joking. Leslie’s answer seemed like one that wouldn’t be serious, but who was to say? Especially with the persona he gave off. I suspected that even if it wasn’t the reason he got into security, it certainly wasn’t a lie, either.

"Good answers," I commenred. They were; they made me feel safer.

They weren’t exactly great conversationalists, though. I guess that was respectable; it meant they were professional and focused on the job itself rather than exchanging pleasantries with me. I did my best to leave them alone, but I did feel better sitting in there with them. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Any time that there was too much silence, my mind poured over possibilities of what had happened. What if there was another hit on Roman’s head? What if there had been a breach in security at work? That would explain why he had to go in early, wouldn’t it? Yet, Roman had told me that it was something that could wait for him to tell me. Surely it wasn’t dire, right? While I trusted my husband, my stomach swirled in nauseating ways because of the uncertainty I felt. Something was definitely up, but all I could do was be patient.

If getting lost in such thoughts weren’t bad enough, the only break I seemed to have was when my phone buzzed. It was always an unknown number, rather than Roman. I wasn’t going to deal with that caller until Roman was home. It felt like asking for trouble to interact with them any more. I shut my mind off from worrying about it, knowing that I was protected.

At one point, I had managed to convince Kane to play a game of cards with me, but he was only willing to play one hand. After fifteen minutes and a sore loss on my part at a game of go fish, he returned to his work. It had been a nice little distraction, but he wasn’t exactly a blast to be around. I wondered to myself how long they would be around. Would they essentially be new installments to our little family? If so, would they eventually warm up and manage to cut loose from time to time?

It was hard to say, but I certainly hoped so. Something about them, just by looking at them I could tell they were good guys with rich stories behind them. I longed to hear them and get to know them. It felt only right if these guys were willing to lay down their lives for mine. Yet I wouldn’t force them to share anything with me that they didn’t want to. Why would I? That sounded rude, didn’t it?

The day couldn’t have gone by any slower. With nothing to do but sit around and worry over what it was that Roman would tell me that evening and listen to my phone ring with wrong numbers. Occasionally, I would pick it up to ask the person to stop calling just from boredom. The calls kept on coming, though. Sometimes from unknown numbers, sometimes from a slew of numbers that were clearly computer generated. At one point in the early afternoon, when my phone rang, I threw it across the den. Thankfully it landed on an armchair, so it didn’t break.

Lori stepped into my line of sight and folded her arms. "I think we should get out of the house. I know you said we should stay put, but your phone and this situation is clearly getting to you. I can’t tell you the last time I watched you just lay around and look so miserable all day. You’re normally one to be doing something. Even if you’re relaxing, you’re at least watching or listening to something. You’re just laying there looking dreadful."

She turned briefly and collected my phone from the chair before turning back my way and placing it in my hand.

"You look peachy yourself," I muttered under my breath, but then I sighed. Lori was right and I didn’t want to admit it. "One day at home and bored won’t kill me, Lori. In fact, I think it’s the going out that will."

"Bodyguards. Remember? Or have you managed to forget what these guys are hired to do? They already told you that we are welcome to go out so long as we bring one along with us," Lori retorted.

"What’s there even to do, Lori?" I asked, sounding a bit petulant.

"Oh heavens me, I forgot there was a whole world that existed outside of being with Roman Thaddeus," Lori taunted.

"Don’t go there," I snapped. "How exactly are you trying to get me to give in to your ways if you’re insulting me?"

Lori sank down onto the couch next to me and took my hands in mine. "Listen, I love you. I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just that sitting here and worrying and waiting for your husband to get home is going to get you nowhere. Why be miserable when we can go out and live it up? Even if it’s just for a little while." When I was still silent because I still wasn’t totally sold, Lori added, "I know a day with me might not be as exciting as a day with Roman, but we can still have some fun."

My stomach twisted with guilt. Never had I wanted my own sister to feel as though I thought she wasn’t good enough. Of course I didn’t mind spending time with her, and never did it have to be compared to my time with Roman. There was no part of me that wanted to leave the house. However, having nothing to do but sit there was getting to me and I felt like I needed to make it up to Lori after getting to her feelings that way. Especially with the krank calls. I nodded and stood up. "Alright, where are we going?"

Lori clapped her hands and had a devilish look on her face. "Just you wait and see." Turning to the guards, she asked one to go with us. In a matter of minutes, we were piling into the car with one of the guards, the other two staying behind to protect the house.

I pulled out my phone and sent Roman a text, Lori and I are going shopping. Don’t worry please.

Where are you going? He replied after just a few minutes.

I’m not sure, she wanted to surprise me, I wrote. Knowing my sister, it’s the movies or shopping or something, I wrote back.

And a guard is with you? He replied immediately.

Of course. Love you, I texted.

Love you more, he replied.