Page 228 of Safe With You

She gave me a quick hug before heading toward the door.

I watched her leave, smiling to myself.

“Good night?”

I turned.

Ellis was standing a few feet away, his camera hanging at his side.

“Good night.”

“Told you people would come back.”

“You did not.”

“I thought it.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“It should.”

“It absolutely should not.”

He smiled and stepped closer.

“You happy?”

I looked around.

There were still people lingering between the shelves. Naomi was collecting abandoned cups from the tables. Mila and Jacob were helping Tasha stack programs that nobody used, although Mila appeared to be doing significantly more talking than stacking.

Rachel’s empty chair was still sitting in the third row.

“Yeah,” I said. “I am.”

Ellis nodded like that was enough.

Before either of us could say anything else, an older woman approached us with a tote bag hanging from her shoulder.

“I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed tonight.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely be back.” Her attention shifted to Ellis. “And the pictures from the last one were beautiful.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“You took those?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I thought so.” She looked between us. “You two make a good team.”

I smiled. “He makes my job easier.”

“I try.”

She gave us both a knowing smile.