Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“You’re right. I’ll call him.”
“Good… And Devin?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you. No matter what happens, remember that.”
“Thanks, Mom.” My voice cracked again. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I ended the call, and I just sat there, holding the phone to my chest. I took a moment to collect myself before dialing his number. I let it ring several times, and when he didn’t answer. I left him a message saying that we needed to talk.
I wasn’t really expecting a response. At least, not right away. If he was available, he would’ve answered when I called. I wasn’t sure how long it would be before he got back to me, so I distracted myself with the pile of work on my desk. I graded a few papers and worked on my class PowerPoint before making my way to my next class.
My lecture went better than expected. The kids took interest in the lesson and even asked questions. It helped to ease some of the haze, but it was still there, simmering under the surface. I packed up my things, and on my way to the car, I kept repeating the same thing over and over.
It’s going to be okay.
It’s going to be okay.
It’s going to be okay.
I really wanted to believe it. I’d waited so long to get back to a place where I truly felt happy and content, and it terrified me to think I might lose it. It was that fear that had me feeling lost in a way I couldn’t begin to describe. I barely knew who I was, much less where I was going.
It’s one of the reasons I hadn’t noticed Jameson standing at my car until I was just a few feet away. His arms were folded, and his cut was pulled tight across his broad chest. The sight of his handsome face and the look of love in his eyes had all my emotions hit me all at once.
The fear.
The doubt.
The ache in my chest that hadn’t stopped since Brian threatened me.
Most of all, the love I felt for the man standing in front of me.
It was all-consuming.
And right then and there, I broke. The tears started to fall once more, and before I collapsed into a puddle right there in the parking lot, Jameson was there. He wrapped his strong arms around me, holding me close, and I could almost feel his strength pouring into me, making me feel safe and secure, something I hadn’t felt in days.
“Easy, baby,” he murmured against my hair while his hand rubbed comforting circles on my back. “I’ve got you.”
In that moment, I realized just how much I’d missed him.
How much I loved and needed him, and I didn’t want to let him go.
Not now. Not ever.
I buried my face in his chest as I muttered, “It’s not true, right?”
“You know it’s not.”
“Then, what’s going on?”
“You know I can’t…” He held me tighter, pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “I need you to give me a little time with this, Devin. I need you to trust me.”
“But how am I supposed to do that?” I pulled back just enough to look up at him. “How am I supposed to trust you when I know you’re involved in things you shouldn’t be?”
“Devin.”
“It’s why you couldn’t move forward with me while I was a cop.”
His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “This isn’t the time for this discussion.”
“Then when, Jameson? Because Brian is threatening to take my kids, and he’s going to use this with you and the club against me. He’s going to take them, and I can’t—” My voice cracked as I told him, “I can’t lose them, Jameson. I just can’t.”
“He’s not going to take them, Devin.” His eyes darkened as he reached up and cupped my face in his rough hands, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “I won’t let him.”
“But how will you stop him?”
“You’re just going to have to trust me.”
Tears kept falling as I searched his eyes, seeing the fire that burned within him, and for reasons I couldn’t explain, I believed him. I believed he was telling me the truth. And not only that. I believed he would protect me and the kids.
I’d considered the possibility of pausing things with him. Maybe even breaking them off permanently. Not because I wanted to, but to put an end to the nonsense with Brian and his threats. But I couldn’t do it. I loved Jameson. I loved what we had together, and I knew deep down that it was worth fighting for.
I pressed my forehead against his as I whispered, “I love you, Jameson.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
He leaned down and kissed me, and I quickly got lost in his touch. He had a way of doing that to me, and something told me he always would. A couple of students walked by, and Jameson eased back, breaking our embrace. He looked down at me with an intensity I hadn’t seen in him before and said, “I need you to do something for me.”