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“Took a while to get there,” he said and told me all about his life, post-graduation.
“You’re moving back to Santa Cruz?” I asked when he’d finished.
He nodded. “Until Violet finishes her undergrad. Then I’ll go wherever she wants to go for medical school. San Francisco, probably. She doesn’t want to leave the Bay Area, and I’m not leaving her, so…”
He shrugged like it was the easiest thing in the world. I toyed with the label on my beer bottle.
“Hey,” he said. “It’s going to be okay.”
I shook my head. “I did what I thought was best for her. And you.”
“I know, but you screwed up, Wentz. What’s best for us is you.”
The two-hour drive from San Quentin to Santa Cruz was both the longest and shortest of my life. Miller wasn’t fucking around—he drove straight to Rare Earth Jewelry and parked out front. Through the tinted glass, I could barely make out Shiloh at the rear of the store. My stomach clenched until I thought I’d puke up the two beers I’d drunk.
“Does she know?”
“She knows you’re getting out. That’s it.”
I heaved a breath and we clasped hands.
“See you later?” I asked.
“If there’s anything left after Shiloh gets done with you.” Miller chuckled, and then it mellowed into a strange smile. He jerked his chin at the shop. “Go on. It’s been long enough.”
I climbed out, but the SUV stayed, likely to make sure I didn’t take off. Miller didn’t have to worry. Now that I was less than twenty feet from Shiloh, I had to see her. Even if she raged at me. Or worse—if she didn’t care one way or another. If I could just breathe the same damn air as her for a minute…
I stepped inside the shop.
It smelled of incense, or maybe a scented candle was lit somewhere. Everything was what it’d been before Frankie had trashed it—classy and beautiful like its owner. A soft chime announced my arrival.
“Be right with you,” Shiloh called, bent over her work, and Christ, her voice… Rich and smooth and going straight to my head like a hit of something potent.
She slid off her stool and started toward me. “How can I…?” Her words choked off in a little gasp. She gripped the side of a worktable, knuckles pale, her mouth falling open.
My girl…
Fucking beautiful—more beautiful than I remembered, though I didn’t know how that was possible. A white sleeveless dress with yellow flowers draped her body, highlighting the glow of her skin, and curves that were rounder than they’d been three years ago. Half of her braids were piled on her head, the other half fell down around her shoulders, drawing my eye to the perfection of her neck, her jaw, her lips…
“Ronan…” She swallowed, and she was staring too, her eyes soaking me in as if she couldn’t believe I was real. “I thought…you had another week.”
I fought every urge to stay on the opposite side of the shop instead of rushing at her, grabbing her, taking her…
She’s not yours to take.
“Don’t know how it works,” I said, my throat dry. “Perry made it happen fast, I guess.”
She nodded faintly, moving slowly to me, then stopping. “Lock the door and turn the sign. If a customer walks in right now, I’ll lose my mind.”
I did as she said and faced her. “Shiloh…”
“Don’t say a word.” She shook her head and held up a hand, trembling. “When it was official that you were getting out, I had a million things planned to say to you, and now I can’t remember any of it. You’re here and I can’t…”
Tears flooded her eyes, and she grasped the edge of a display case, her legs giving out.
I was there in two long strides, catching her before she fell. Once my hands touched her, I couldn’t help myself, I was so fucking greedy for her. I gathered her in my arms, holding her tight. She relented, her body collapsing against me.
For long seconds, I held her, and she was holding me just as tight.
