Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24601 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
I sit beside her, rubbing her back, listening to her breathing slow. She's exhausted, but she still manages to pat my hand, like she's thanking me for not laughing or leaving.
As if I ever would.
This is the best night of my life. Watching her hustle my best friends out of their pride with a smile on her face is one of those perfect moments I won't ever forget.
Christ, I love her so much it fucking terrifies me.
The truth is right there on my tongue, choking me, desperate to be out in the world, where it belongs to her. But I know she won't remember this tomorrow, and I don't want my words to be something she forgets. I want the truth to be something she carries with her forever, the same way she will my heart.
So I lean down and kiss her forehead instead. "You're the best part of my life," I rasp, my voice so thick with emotion, I'm not sure she can even make sense of it.
But she wraps both arms around my neck, her face pressed to my throat, and sighs like she's never been happier. "I'm glad I didn't run, Blaze."
Jesus.
I pull the covers up, tuck her in, and sit on the edge of the bed until her breathing evens out. My phone buzzes, but I ignore it. Instead, I count her breaths, pretty goddamn sure they're the most significant sound in my world.
Chapter Ten
Blaze
"Where the hell have you been?" I ask, coming to a dead stop in the hall when Bishop steps out of his room with a box in one hand and a duffel thrown over his shoulder on Monday. He hasn't been home since poker night.
He turns, grinning at me. "I've been bunking with Wade, motherfucker. I am not old enough to hear any of the things you and Calamity have been up to lately."
"Shit." I grimace, pulling my bedroom door closed so we don't disturb Morgan. She's dead to the world. Her little ass should be after keeping me up half the night every night all weekend. "I'm sorry, man. We didn't mean to run you out of here."
He chuckles, his green eyes crinkling. "It's all good. You two deserve a little privacy."
"Are you pissed?"
"That you're glowing like a goddamn neon sign? Fuck no. Happy looks good on you." He cocks his head to the side, eyeing me. "You're less restless with her than you've ever been. I like it."
"That's because one of us has to be sane," I mutter, which is the God's honest truth. Morgan is two handfuls, one hundred percent of the time. She's loud and bright enough to shake the world on its foundations if left to her own devices. Every story she tells me about her life shaves a year off mine. She doesn't need me running wild, causing problems. She needs me at her side, making sure she isn't causing any she can't come back from. That's my job now—being the motherfucker who holds her heart without ever caging it.
God knows, she has mine. Every little piece of it is in her hands.
I feel still in a way I never have, full of a purpose I never knew existed. This is what peace feels like. This is what perfect feels like. It's goddamn beautiful.
Bishop just laughs, shaking his head. But he knows I'm not lying. He's seen exactly how she is. While he and Wade were puking their way through hangovers after poker night, she was rearranging Hudson's office, belting out show tunes like she was on top of the world.
"You heard anything from Dillon about Burkett yet?" Bishop asks.
"He's called a few times," I mutter, scrubbing a hand through my hair. He called on Thursday night and again on Friday and Saturday. I haven't called him back yet.
Frankly, I'm a little worried about what he has to say. And if I'm honest, I'm a lot worried that asking Morgan to meet with him may unravel everything we're building here. I don't want to rock the boat, not when I'm sitting in it.
She doesn't even know I went to see him yet. I'm an asshole for not telling her, but she's falling for me. She told me that she was glad she didn't run.
I need her to keep falling, not decide that she made a mistake with me. I've never needed much in my life, but after having her spilling her color all over it, I know I need her. I won't survive if she runs now.
"You need to call him back, man," Bishop advises, his voice soft. "She won't be free until this is over, and you won't be able to relax until she's free."
"Yeah, I know."
"Don't fuck it up."
"Don't plan on it."
"Good, because I like her for you." He holds out his fist for me to bump before heading down the hall. "I better be the best man at your wedding."