In the past, Steff’s response would’ve been an automatic yes, but that was before Dalton and how she’d gotten used to being near him. Being able to sleep well knowing that he was in the next room should she need him.
The thought of him not being close was one that didn’t sit well with her, but she couldn’t assume that he would want to take her back to his place, even though she wanted that.
“Thank you, that’s really nice of you,” she started, and then cringed inwardly at how insincere that sounded. “I-um…”
Cynthia chuckled. “Stop, Steff, it’s okay. I have a feeling if you said yes, Jag wouldn’t let you stay with me anyway. You know, all those protective vibes and stuff he gives off. He wouldn’t want you out of his sight.”
“I don’t think I want to be out of his sight either,” she murmured.
“I say this with all of the love in my heart, but be careful, Steff. There’s so much going on in your life. You’re going back to therapy and reliving what happened to us. Then there’s tonight. All your emotions are heightened. You should be cautious when it comes to making any personal decisions right now.”
Cynthia wasn’t being anything but a good friend, yet Steff couldn’t help thinking she was treating her a bit like a child, as though she was unable to think clearly.
She’d been on her own for a long time. She’d had to deal with planning her parents’ funerals all alone. Dealing with lawyers to finalize their estate, along with financial advisors who helped invest the money from the sale of her parents’ property and the proceeds from both their life insurance policies.
She’d done all that long before she’d met Cynthia.
“I hear you, but I’m good. I’m not reacting because of the circumstances that are surrounding me right now.”
“Everything good?” Dalton came up, and she was grateful for his interruption.
She stood. “Yeah, we were just talking.”
Dalton glanced between the two of them, as if trying to determine if she was telling the truth or not. “Okay. The police are about to leave. The forensic guys should be another hour, but Deal said he’d stay and see them out.”
The support Dalton’s friends were giving her was more than she expected, but she shouldn’t be surprised. The couple of times she’d been with them at Alliez, she’d seen the camaraderie between them. The way they joked with each other. It was clear when they’d go on a mission they’d have each other’s backs and would make sure they came back alive.
“He doesn’t have to do that,” she protested, no matter how pointless it was going to be.
“He wanted to. You’ve got us now, Steff.” Dalton pulled her into a hug, and she sank into it gratefully. There was something so perfect about being in his arms. The sense of safety that constantly surrounded her. Not in a stifling I-can’t-breathe way, but in an I-will-slay-all-your-dragons-for-you way.
“I know.”
“You ready to head out too, Cyn?” Fox joined them, and Steff watched her friend with interest, noting that she didn’t seem as relaxed in Fox’s embrace like Steff was in Dalton’s. Or as she had been earlier in the evening. Given the way she’d talk about how she liked Fox and things were getting a little serious between them, she thought Cynthia would be more comfortable.
Or it could simply be because the place was full of strangers. Like her, Cynthia was still dealing with the aftermath of what she’d been through, and being here had to have brought up memories for her regardless of the fact that she’d been strong for Steff.
She pinched the bridge of her nose as a sharp shaft of pain permeated her skull. There were so many thoughts running through her that it was inevitable her head would begin to ache. It was late. Her home had been destroyed. Was it any surprise her body was telling her enough was enough?
“Come on, hon, let’s go.” He kissed the top of her head, a gesture she was beginning to love a lot, and tucked her against his side.
“Are you even going to ask her if she wants to go to, I’m guessing, your place, Jag? Or are you just going to assume she’d be happy with you thinking for her?” Cynthia’s sharp tone surprised them all, even the forensic people stopped what they were doing and looked over at them.
Regardless of them being good friends, Cynthia had gone too far. “Where else would I go, Cynthia? I don’t care if he assumed. I don’t want to be anywhere but with him.”
Dalton’s fingers flexed on her shoulder. “My only concern is getting Steff away from here. Once we got to my car, I was going to ask her where she wanted to go. If she wanted to go to your place, I would take her. Same if she wanted to go to a hotel. Or if she wanted to come to my place. I don’t make decisions for her. Steff has her own mind and her own will in this relationship between us.”
Cynthia’s face flushed bright red, and she worried her bottom lip. Tears welled in her eyes as her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry. It’s just … after what we went through, having our free will taken away from us… After all this.” She waved her hand around the room. “It stirred things up for me. I guess I’m a little protective of having the ability to make our own decisions and not being told what to do.”
Steff shook off Dalton’s arm and rushed over to her friend, giving her a hug that she hoped gave Cynthia as much comfort as Dalton’s gave her. “I’m sorry for snapping back. I get it. I do.”
Cynthia hugged her back. “I’m sorry too for saying what I did. I care, that’s all.”
“I know.”
She gave her friend one last squeeze before releasing her, aware that Fox was nearby and would want to offer Cynthia comfort as well.
Dalton came up and rested his hand on her lower back, and she turned to him. “Take me away from here.”
