“On that note, I’m out.” Aretha chuckled under her breath. “I’ll see you crazy kids later.”
“I’ll, uh, walk you.” Harrow massaged his nape as she stepped past him. “Would you like to go?—?”
The door slammed behind him, robbing me of the rest of the question, but I could guess.
“They’ll make a cute couple,” Matty decided and then yawned. “I can’t hold my eyes open.”
“Go rest.” I nudged him toward the door. “You’ve earned it.”
As soon as he made his exit, I turned to Lucia, who stared past me to Kierce.
“He stays.” I nodded when he went to the kitchen to pour me a drink. “I might never let him out of my sight again.” I rolled my lips in, wishing I hadn’t blurted that out. “Anyway.” I cleared my throat, only coughing a little. “Ithas is gone. You don’t have to worry about him. He won’t bother you again.”
“Thanks, kid.” A heavy sigh moved through her, leaving her slumped against her pillows. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
“You’ve been working toward this goal for a long time. I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re welcome to stay longer, after you’ve healed, I mean, if you want a quiet place to think on what comes next.”
“I wish I could, but my handler is breathing down my neck to get back to work.”
“Ah.” I dipped my gaze. “I get that.”
The offer had fallen out of my mouth before I could catch it. I hadn’t expected her to accept it, so I don’t know why her rejection hit so hard. It wasn’t like I had ever wanted a mother, so it was silly to get upset over losing one I barely knew. Especially when I was grateful she had come through for me when it counted the most.
“You guys do Christmas?”
“Christmas?” I jerked my head up to find her watching me. “Yeah.”
“I could swing by then.” She tugged the sheet through her fingers. “Drop off a present or something.” She cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t hang around and make it awkward. I just thought?—”
“Yes,” I blurted before she changed her mind. “That would be great.”
“Good.” A subtle warmth softened her eyes before they slid shut. “Good.”
Wincing from the burn, I pulled out the thumbtack and set it on the nightstand to let her know I had made my choice. To forget. To quit looking back. To only move forward from now on.
I jumped when Kierce set his hand on my shoulder, but I let him guide me out of the apartment onto the landing and press a plastic cup into my hand. Lucia needed to rest, and I didn’t want to wreck our tentative holiday plans by hovering over her like a creeper.
As I sipped, a warm breeze swirled hair into my eyes that Kierce tucked behind my ear.
With a fingertip, he traced the curve of my cheek. “You gave away my apartment.”
“About that.” I sawed my teeth over my bottom lip. “I was kind of hoping you would move in with me.”
“Move in.” His eyes sprang wide. “With you.”
“Damn it. I knew I should have asked first. I just thought, after everything?—”
“Yes.” His lips crashed into mine. “I will move in with you.”
Caught up in the moment, I didn’t stop him in time, but I shoved him back quick. “Toothbrush.”
Morning breath had only compounded the ickfest happening inside my ashy mouth.
A low growl vibrated in his chest, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t like this slightly feral side of him.
Without missing a beat, he scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder, the plastic cup tumbling from my hand and down the stairs ahead of us.
“Hey,” I squeaked out, not minding the view one bit. “Is this really necessary?”
