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“You know,” I said, “it’s not too late. I can still break his arms. He fucking deserves it.”
“Awww, thanks, Hawk.” She smiled and let out a long breath. “No, from now on, if someone bothers me, I’ll handle it myself.”
“No, you won’t,” I growled. “Because I will never let anyone lay a fucking hand on you again.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her in. “And you have me now and forever. You don’t have to deal with anything alone ever again.”
Lila’s phone dinged, and she tensed. “Well, I have one more thing I need to deal with, but I have to do it alone.”
“What is it?”
“Mae.”
“I’m not her client anymore. She can’t possibly be worried about that.”
“No, she’s not. But she…suspects you’re not exactly the…ah…sweet and innocent type.”
“No one has ever mistaken me for that. Is that why she keeps texting you every day?”
She nodded and bit her lip.
“Is she checking to make sure I’m not some playboy who’s had his fill of you and dumped you?”
With a shrug, she said, “Or stuffed my severed head in a duffel bag?”
“Well, that was weirdly specific.”
She shrugged. “It’s a thing we have. But don’t worry. She’ll support my decision, no matter what. Even if it takes a few days for her to come around.”
“What if she doesn’t…come around?” Would Lila lose her best friend because of me? If she was forced to choose, would she ditch me for her friendship?
Her lips crashed into mine, and she snaked her hand through my hair, pulling me in close. And chasing away any doubts I had that anything, or anyone, could come between us.
“You’re my family now, Hawk. I love you. And Mae’s also my family. And she will come around.”
I let the hug melt all the worries away from my body. I held her tight until Karma yipped from the floor.
“I think she’s jealous,” Lila said.
“Of you or me?”
Lila giggle. “Hmm, not sure.”
Rambo dropped into a play bow. Karma rubbed her head against his, ran one circle around him, then sat and stared up at the bed.
Yip.
Rambo jumped on the mattress, landing next to me, then bounded off, looked at Karma, and then jumped back up again.
“Okay, buddy, I get it.”
I scooped up Karma and placed her on the bed at the same time that Rambo leaped up. Karma scratched at the duvet a few times, then lay down. Rambo licked my hand before cuddling up to Karma for a snooze. Daisy even graced us with her presence, perching at the foot of the bed and looking down on us all.
I had everything I needed right here in my room. If Lila hadn’t insisted on going to work, I’d have spent all my time with her. And our furry family.
And, of course, Nana down the hall, who hadn’t gone back to Boston yet. And Uncle Leo coming up with lame excuses every day to visit us and invite himself for supper.
***
