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“Sometimes a person has to be arrested to get the help they need.”
Minty shifted, but didn’t say anything else for several long minutes. I’d almost managed to drift off when he whispered, “Why do you love me? I’m a mess.”
“I love you because you’re a sweet, loving, good person.”
“I was supposed to be strong for you. I wasn’t.”
“You were,” I reminded him. “You didn’t go with Kyle. You got evidence to help protect yourself from him.”
“But I came here and upset you instead of handling it myself. Or going to Barry or Daniel. You’ve got your family troubles, and now I’m piling on.”
“I’m your boyfriend and your Dom, and I love you. I wouldn’t have wanted you going to anyone else. Baby?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise you’ll always find me before you do something to hurt yourself. No matter what. No matter how.”
“I already promised that, didn’t I? On our ice cream date. I promised to tell you before I off myself so we can have one last scene.”
My heart wrenched.
“But I don’twantto off myself, Luke. That’s why I ran, and why I drove here. I want to live because being with you makes my darkness worth carrying.”
I dragged him even more tightly to my body. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered. “We can go to the campus police tomorrow, if that’s what you want.”
“It’s not just what I want,” I said. “It’s what you need.”
Minty shivered against me. “Yes, Sir.”
The katydids called outside my bedroom window, and I stared at the tree branches swaying in the wind as Minty’s body finally eased into sleep. I was awake for several more hours worrying and stressing about Minty, and pondering the question of what made me so different from Kyle. But at least I didn’t see the pearly glow of dawn.
Restless sleep claimed me before that.
***
Minty
“Ah!”
The small cry of shock made me jump, and I almost dropped the bowl of pancake batter I’d whipped up.
“Oh, my God, you scared me,” Luke’s mother gasped, clutching her chest. She tilted her head. “You’re Minty, aren’t you?”
I set the bowl aside, dusted the flour off my hands, and put one out for her to shake. “Yes, ma’am. Sorry.”
Her fingers were cold as they clasped mine. “Luke knows you’re here?” She laughed, a throaty sound. “Of course he does. He’s lazing in bed while you’re making breakfast?”
I smiled and turned back to the bowl. “I wake up first usually. He likes pancakes. I’d hoped, maybe, you like them too?”
“I do.” She took a seat at the kitchen table, wrapping her green robe more tightly around her middle. With her disheveled blonde hair and elegantly-angled features, I saw where Luke got his handsome looks. “And so does Betsy.”
My heart lifted. I’d forgotten Betsy was here.
I went back to stirring pancake batter before turning to the cabinets to search out a good-sized frying pan.
“Here, let me,” she said, taking over. “You’re my guest. Have a seat.” She gestured at the table.
