Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
I nod in agreement. “You going to stick around and celebrate?”
“No, I’m going to go and let you get in some family time. Back to work tomorrow, boss man?”
I scrub a hand down my face. “Yeah, I need to get to the office.”
He holds his hand up to me for a fist bump. “See you in the morning.”
I tell him bye and walk into my loud, chaotic house. I soak in the sounds, the laughter and talking. Everyone is happy. I am too; I’m just hoping that this is not the beginning of the end.
They’ve already cut the cake, and I’m passed a plate.
Lindsey is avoiding my gaze, and my stomach drops.
Skyler tells her, “Okay, I know you’re happy. I haven’t seen you smile like this since I met you.”
Lindsey pulls Eli close to her side, her arm wrapped tight around him. “I’m so happy,” she says, letting out a shaky breath. “I’m really bad at this kind of thing, but… I need to say thank you. All of you. You saved me and Eli. We didn’t have anyone, and you just… took us in like we belonged.”
She glances toward Logan and Zach. “And you helped put the bad guys away.”
Lifting the cake slightly, she gives a small, emotional laugh. “You’ve fed us, celebrated with us, listened to me when I was completely falling apart…”
Her eyes move around the room. “You’ve shown up—for games, for court, for everything that mattered.”
Then she looks at me, her voice softer. “And you… you made us feel safe. You protected us.”
Her gaze drifts back to everyone. “I don’t even know how to thank you enough. But I’m so ready to just… get back to my life and live again. To stop looking over my shoulder and just be happy.”
As soon as she says ‘back to my life,’ my heart sinks. She’s leaving. She’s going to leave me, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
I set the plate down, ramble something about needing to make a phone call, and then walk through the house and out the back door.
I have to try and catch my breath. She’s leaving me. Lindsey and Eli are leaving.
CHAPTER 23
LINDSEY
Since the second Eli said he was going to get to stay here with Miller and me forever, Miller has been off. He’s been quiet as his family all celebrated today’s outcome, and now he’s nowhere to be found.
I look for him in his office and his bedroom downstairs. I am about to head upstairs when I see him sitting on the steps of the back porch.
His head is down, and I’m wondering what he’s thinking right now. I draw my shoulders back. I have everything to lose right now, and I can't keep quiet.
I open the door, but he doesn’t even turn to see who it is.
I sit down next to him. “You think we should have that talk now?”
He tenses. “Okay.”
I open my mouth but then close it, not sure where to start.
He reaches for my hand and threads our fingers together. I point at our hands. “You always do that. Anytime I’m around, you are reaching for my hand.”
He tightens his hold. “Would you rather I didn’t?”
I shake my head. “No, I mean, I like it… when you hold my hand.”
He turns his body so he’s facing me. “I don’t want to let go.”
I suck in a breath and let it out slowly. I have to do this. That’s the only way I’m going to know this is real.
I unclasp my hand from his and play with the engagement ring on my finger. Slowly, I pull it off, open Miller’s hand, and put it in it. “Here’s your ring.”
His face is void of all emotion. He looks at the ring and then back at me. “I heard you in there. I heard you say you were ready to get back to your life.”
I jerk back and shake my head. “I meant to my job. That people would actually hire me now since the Davenports are in jail. I meant that I wouldn’t have to constantly be worrying that someone is going to take Eli or try to kill me. That’s what I meant.”
He’s searching my face, looking for answers.
I hold my hands together in my lap to stop from reaching for him. “I came to you for help. I needed you, and I wouldn’t be here, celebrating, if it wasn’t for you.”
“But…” he starts.
“There’s no buts. I owe you for everything.”
He spits out the words. “You don’t owe me anything.”
Fuck, this is so hard. “I’m giving you the ring because you gave it to me to help me keep Eli. One day”—I suck in a breath—“I’m hoping you give it to me for another reason.”
“What?” he asks.
Please don’t let me fuck this up. “Miller, we did this all backwards. We didn’t even get a second date before my nephew and I were dropped into your lap. For weeks now, we’ve been messing up your schedule, your life and—”