Page 155 of Silent Damage

That hangs in the room for a few beats, then Linda says, “It’s really nice to hear your voice again.”

Linda’s eyes never leave Gabe, and I glance over to see him looking at her, too. “Maybe it’s time for me to speak up a little more,” he finally says.

Linda smiles. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I think I’m ready.”

A tear falls down Linda’s cheek, and she rushes to kiss his forehead. “That’s wonderful,” she gasps.

I’m so fucking proud of him. Maybe finally speaking the truth about that night aloud helped him find his voice again.

“Well,” Linda says, breaking the moment. “I have to help Mrs. Thompson clean out her shed. You boys behave.”

Linda gets up to leave. Once she’s out of the trailer, I turn to Gabe and say, “Get that cute little ass of yours on my lap now.”

He giggles because he’s cute as fuck, but says, “I’m almost done—gimme a second.”

He finishes the last few touches of whatever he’s drawing, then approaches.

“What do you think?”

I gasp.

It’s a picture of me on my motorcycle.

And it’s perfect.

He’s captured every detail of the bike, and I look like such a freaking stud!

“Is this how I look on it?” I ask in awe.

“You look hotter. No drawing could capture how sexy you look on that bike, babe.”

My eyes trail up to Gabe, and I curl my finger to make him come closer. We kiss, and I pull him into my lap, his legs straddling me, while we make out.

“Thank you. It’s amazing,” I say when the kissing has settled.

Gabe just shrugs…then it hits me. “It’s not finished,” I tell him.

Gabe looks surprised. “Oh? Did I miss something?”

I kiss him again. “Yeah. You. You need to be riding on the back of it. Can you do that?”

His smile could melt the polar caps. “Yeah, I think I can do that.”

“Thank you.”

We kiss again, and I can’t help but knead his butt.

I’m obsessed with it.

“Do you have a job tonight?” he asks.

“I do.”

A worried expression appears, but he shakes it off and forces a grin. “Be careful.”

“Always.”