“I will not put anyone else’s life at risk here. I won’t do it.” She shakes her head emphatically. “Violet is pregnant. Emma has Olivia. Aubrey just went through hell. If he’d gotten in here today…”
“Hey, stop. I’ll take leave from the station. Chief offered it before, when we went to see him, but I didn’t want to take it. The guys were already going to be shorted, but I can still take it. I’ll be here everyday.” I slip the new shirt over my head and pull my gym shorts up.
“I thought I was strong enough. I thought I could disconnect all my feelings like I always do and just get through. But you and your family make it impossible.” She curls into herself on the bed, her knees tucked up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs.
Jumping onto the bed, I knock her over with me and pull her close. “Isn’t that a good problem to have?”
“I thought it was. But now you’re all in danger. Because of me.”
“New plan. Let’s just lay here for a bit, then we can make food. Let’s just take a minute, then we can talk.” I kiss her cheek and snuggle in, letting our bodies meld together as they naturally do.
“Fine. But wearegoing to talk about this after. I’m serious.”
I run my fingers through her hair, scratching lightly at her scalp while I do it. “I promise. We will talk about it.”
Within minutes of the calming movements my fingers make, she’s breathing evenly and softly in my arms. Her hand that held mine moments before lets go and rests on top of my chest.
“I’ll protect you as long as I can, Goddess. I won’t survive losing you,” I whisper into the quiet space.
I’m mad enough to admit the words are more for me than her.
The last few days have been hard for both of us. Struggling with the idea of hurting the Keaton family and wanting to leave creates an internal battle I wasn’t ready to fight.
Walking downstairs, I find Wyatt making coffee. As soon as he sees me, he hands me my mug.
“I don’t think we should go today,” I blurt out. And I know exactly what he’s going to say.
“We’re still going. We aren’t going to let them win. We are going to enjoy a day with the entire family. It’s going to be fun and safe.” He shuts down any argument.
“Wyatt.”
He wraps his arms around my middle and leans into me. “No, Goddess. I’m putting my foot down on this one.”
I stare up at him with raised brows, waiting to see how this is going to go.
“I know. You don’t like that. But I don’t like watching you curl into yourself. You are a strong, badass woman. Hiding isn’t you. Cowering because of them isn’t you. And watching all of it affect your mental health every single day we don’t leave this house… I just can’t do it anymore. So I’m giving you what you need, not what you want.”
“Guess I can’t argue with that.” I finally wrap my arms around him.
“You really can’t. And if you do, I’ll just have to find other ways to convince you.” His hands roam down my body, slipping into my shorts.
Suddenly the smell of the coffee hits my nose, and I run to the bathroom.
Footsteps sound down the hall. “Are you okay?” He grabs a cloth and wets it with warm water, handing it to me to clean my lips.
“I’m so sorry. The anxiety of everything just has my stomach in knots.”
He sinks to the floor next to me, letting me rest back on his chest.
“Don’t be sorry. I just wish I could help you.”
Looking over my shoulder so I can see his face, I say, “You already help me. Everyday.”
Kissing my forehead, he gets up before pulling me off the floor.
“Come on, let’s go get ready.” Scooping me into his arms, he carries me upstairs to our bathroom.
After depositing me on the bed, I watch as he draws a bath in the jacuzzi tub, adding some lavender epsom salts and a few bubbles.
