“But Cha—”
“No buts, Dax. Shedoesn’twant this life. That’s where it needs to end. Trust me on this. You still trust me, don’t you?”
His body finally slumps. “Yeah, bro… always.”
“Then I need you to let this go, and I swear I’llbe more present. I’m sorry I got so wrapped up in Lyric. It’s just… I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for Lyri, Dax. It scares me how deep my feelings run for her and how quickly they developed.”
His eyes meet mine. It’s like something inside of him clicks, like he’s finally seeing it. “You love her.”
My body ignites, my chest warming at the thought. “I do.”
He slowly grips my shoulder. “Then, brother, we gotta get her back ’cause I’m not having you mope around here like a lovesick puppy. That’s not good for your image.” He gives me a dirty, big smirk.
I slap him across the back of the head. “Asshole.”
He exhales, chuckling at his own joke. “We need to make a plan. Aget-Lyri-backplan. If anyone can pull off something big, it’s us.”
“I love how getting her back is now anusthing. You do know there’s only two ofusin this relationship, not three?”
He mockingly frowns. “Are you sure you don’t wanna spice things up?” I roll my eyes, turning to walk out the door. “I’m kidding,” he calls out. “Kinda,” he mumbles, and as I turn back to face him, he smirks. “So, you wanna go in with a big bang right away, or just ease in slow and steady like, giving her just a little thrust to wet her whistle?”
I groan. “Why does everything have to be an innuendo with you?”
“I can stop. Or I can give you more, more, more,mooore—”
“Fucking hell, you’re like a prepubescent teen, I swear.”
He laughs, putting the ice back on his eye. “I’m just glad we’re working together again. OperationLyrical Revivalis now in full swing.”
“Getting my woman back has a code name?”
“Every mission has to have one. We’re brothers in arms, fighting the good fight, Chase. You with me on this?” Enthusiasm seeps off him in waves.
“Yeah.” I can’t help but get excited at the possibility because at the end of whatever-the-hell-ride I’m about to embark on with Dax, I know I am going to have Lyric back.
“I can’t hear you, soldier. I said…are you with me on this?”
“Fuck’s sake,” I mumble under my breath.“Yeah,” I state with much more enthusiasm while trying to appease him.
He grins like the damn Cheshire cat as he straightens his leather jacket. “Okay, first things first. What’s her favorite food?”
I raise a brow in curiosity. “What?” He glares at me. “Okay, ahh… I know she likes Red Vines. She ate a bunch of them on the road trip to take the goat back to Rip. Oh, plus Fun Dip and Indian food, but I don’t know how we could work that into it?”
“Girl’s got a spicy side, but more importantly, a sweet tooth. Okay, we can work with the second one.”
“You gonna shower her in sugar? I think that’s a bad idea. I’ve seen her on a sugar high.”
His eyes close, then a huge juvenile expression lights his face.
I reach out, punching his arm. “Stop imagining Lyri in the shower.”
His eyes flash open with a chuckle. “Sorry, bro. Gotta admit sheisfucking hot, though.”
I exhale. The thought of never seeing Lyric’s gorgeous face makes me want to punch something.Again.The fact that this all happened in such a messed-up way is entirely my fault.
This isallmy fault.
If I’d just told herevery fucking thingfrom the start, who I am, what I’ve done in the past, none of this would have happened.
