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But that’s selfish, and I would drive her nuts.
Landon balances us out, as much as I hate to admit it.
I’m not even all the way up her driveway when I notice the change in her scent.
It’s slightly soured.
She’s upset, and I fucking hate it.
By the time I’m at her door, I smell the salt of her tears.
When she answers it, her eyes watery, I can’t help but pull her into my arms.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, as she buries my head in my chest. “I’m here.”
I allow her scent to ground me, and I rumble my chest, offering a subtle purr for her.
She sighs in my hold, then steps out of the doorway so I can step in. Landon’s on the couch, a yellow macaron in his hand and a mug in front of him on the coffee table.
“Just used my French Press. You want some?” she asks, a look of defeat on her expression. She looks paler than she did before, and the dark circles are back.
“What did that asshole say to you?” I demand, following her into the kitchen. I watch anxiously as she pours a large cup of coffee, then hands it to me wordlessly. She goes to sit on the couch next to Landon, sighing.
I join on the opposite side of her, so she’s sandwiched between us.
“He has a very defeatist attitude,” Landon says. “He wasn’t very hopeful when discussing April.”
“No,” Skylar chuckles, staring at the coffee table. “He said she was probably dead.”
I clench and unclench my fists. That fucker.
There’s a way to approach those subjects, and now that Vincent stopped giving a fuck, I can only imagine what that piece of shit said to her.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” she adds, wiping at her face. “She may very well be gone. It’s just…he was so negative about it. He didn’t even want to try.” Her voice cracks and she groans. “Fuck,” she mutters, shaking her head. “What is his deal? And he said you guys aren’t even friends?”
I exchange a look with Landon, and he raises an eyebrow, as if saying I’m not the one that’s going to tell her.
It’s a story even I don’t want to tell.
“A case went sideways,” I say, doing my best to keep it brief. “And after that, he retired early. We had some disagreements.”
She looks up at me, her blue eyes shining. “He’s still a dick,” she mutters. “I almost threw my hot coffee on him.”
Landon quirks his lip. “I would have enjoyed witnessing that,” he chuckles.
We fall silent, and I relax onto her couch, sipping my coffee. It’s a peaceful moment, after the stressful day, and I want to bask in her scent and company while I can.
“Oh, well,” she says. “I could organize more searches. And when I’m back at work tomorrow, I’ll make plans with the others. I just have to keep going, so I don’t fall apart.”
She takes a deep breath and leans back against the couch and presses her legs up on the coffee table.
The sight is adorable. She’s in pink sweatpants and a grey sweatshirt, and her socks have a variety of colorful cookies on them.
I don’t want to ruin this moment.
“Sweetheart,” Landon starts, his gaze falling to her socks as well. “We need to talk to you about that.”
Landon said it would be fine. We will get her to understand.
