Page 123 of Save Me

Micah shrugs. “Can’t win ‘em all.” But he watches me with that look. The calculating look. Like I’ve missed a move somehow. What move could I have missed? Why wouldn’t he want to go? Because of the murder squad? I thought he was tight with them.

Surely not. But Micah watches me, and I wonder something stupid: Does he care what I think?

I blow out a breath, suddenly feeling awkward.

Micah grabs a fry carefully. “I thought you might not want to go there…”

Me? He thought about me? As in, I’m invited?

I’m not sure what the feeling in my gut is. It’s like popcorn has exploded. He’s inviting me.

That happy, warm feeling rushes over me.

Micah watches me. “For real though, we can find somewhere else.”

“Nowhere else has the land for the animals.”

Micah just stares, then puts the burger down. “I have been talking to someone, Nolan, about the legalities. Since I know you were concerned about that. He said it’s not that hard, just have a few hoops to jump through, and have a lot of money.”

Really? He took the time to look into that? But of course he did. Micah pays attention. For the first time, I allow myself to think about that. A sanctuary where I could rescue animals? Some tension I’ve been holding releases.

“But for real, we don’t have to—” I can see the hesitation in his body, but Micah’s eyes look excited. Like he’s trying to hold back. Like this has made him happy.

“I’m okay with it.” I am. This makes Micah happy, and I’m realizing that makes me happy.

For a beat, Micah says nothing, but I see his body vibrating. Then he smiles. “Let’s get out of this hotel room, yeah?”

I can’t keep the relieved smile off my face. “Fuck yeah.”

In that moment, Minky’s head pops up in Micah’s lap as he tries to steal his food. Micah laughs, wrestling him back down. The candlelight on his skin lights up his soft skin and his pretty blue hair. Joy radiates off him in a contagious way, and this moment freezes for me. It’s me, Micah, Minky, and Princess, and I’m hit with the sudden realization that this is all I need. I don’t need a house; I just need him. Them.

My heart races with the realization. Home. I’ve found the home I’ve always wanted.

And immediately after that realization comes the fear. It’s a huge rush of fear, cold and chilling. Because what if I lose this? Right after I found it?

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

Well, put a ripcord up my ass and get me started. WE’RE BUYING A HOUSE.

I bounce on my toes outside the title office. We’re early, and it’s still locked. But holy fudge, Maddox and I are going to own a house together, and I can’t stop smiling. In fact, I haven’t stopped smiling since Maddox made me that dinner. It was so freaking thoughtful, and I know he was scared. He didn’t stop white-knuckling his phone the entire time. And yet…he did it anyway. He did it scared. For me.

And that makes me want to melt in a puddle of happy tears.

“Micah.” Maddox’s voice is gentle, breaking me out of my thoughts to see someone unlocking the door. Freak yeah! Let’s do this!

I pull out the check and hand it to the person. They wave me off, then direct us into a room.

For a second, my cheeks heat, and then I’m bouncing in the seat. Let’s get this over with; we have a house to get to!

Maddox squeezes my hand.

His touch brings me back down, almost. My veins are humming with energy. It’s happening! We’re so close. The hotel is all packed up, and I can see the joy in Maddox’s face in a real house. One he gets to make his own.

“Hey, how are you guys?”

I hand the check to the person who walks in, and this time, they accept it.

Maddox’s dimples pop, but I’m caught up in visions. The signing process takes a few minutes, signing all kinds of papers, cash, no contingencies, blah, blah, blah. All I hear is home. I had offered to let Maddox sign with me. In fact, I prefer it so he feels like it’s his house too. But then he turned white as a sheet. I’ve inferred that Arthur must have ruined that for him, too, and he’s afraid I’ll abandon him with the expenses. Which I’d never do, but this isn’t about what I want; it’s about what he wants. I can always add him later.