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“You said Dash was in the shower, you were in his bed, and Cole left to give you privacy!” Paige rushes through the words, but I pick them all up just the same.
“What the fuck, Luna?” If I wanted to strangle her before, now I want to take my time and then bury her in a shallow grave.
But my sister doesn’t pay me any attention. She squares off with Paige, fists on her hips, brows drawn low in a dark scowl.
“You broke my brother’s heart! I wasn’t just going to pass off the phone so you could do it again!”
Paige scoffs. “Broke his heart?He’sthe one who ended things withme!”
Luna’s mouth bobs a couple of times before snapping shut. Then she shifts her angry glare to me. “Then Dash should’ve been clearer about the details. All I know is that I show up at his house and he’s a full-blown puddle of misery asking me how to deal with a broken heart. I didn’t realize he did it to himself.”
“Can you give us a minute?” I scowl at my sister, torn between fury at her interference and a twisted burst of love knowing she was just trying to protect me. Seems like Paige isn’t the only one with family members attempting to clean up messes for them.
“Fine. But if this ends badly, you better not start burning shit again.” Luna stomps out of the garage, and Paige’s parents make as if to follow her.
“No,” Paige holds out a hand to stop them. “You’re not going anywhere until you explain why my ex is helping you out with cars.”
Her use of the word “ex” guts me, but I don’t give up hope.
“You know I’ve been needing a strong set of hands.” Mrs. Herbert massages her fingers as if they pain her. “And I knew Dash was going to need to earn some extra money.”
“What?” Paige stares between the two of us, suspicion clear on her face.
“New York City is expensive.” Once again, I’ve shocked her. This time, I hope she doesn’t yell at me.
“We’ll leave you two to figure things out.” Mr. Herbert wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulders, starting to lead her out of the garage. But he pauses by his daughter, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I admit. I may have misjudged the boy.” His intense eyes land on me for a moment, holding a weight I’m not afraid to shoulder. Mr. Herbert nods once, then exits with his wife.
Finally, the two of us are alone.
“I don’t understand.” As Paige gazes at me, she no longer holds anger or distrust in her eyes. She just looks lost.
The separation too much for me to handle, I approach cautiously, speaking in a soothing tone as if I can keep her from startling and backing away from me again.
“I realized you were right. I was shoving away the things I loved. I thought they would tempt me into doing something stupid, and I’d go back to jail.” I shake my head at myself, just inches away from Paige now. “Except that’s not exactly right. I was more scared I would get to have the things I loved, and then I’d lose them. That I’d loseyou. I thought love made people do crazy reckless things.” She’s within my reach, and this time she doesn’t flinch from my touch. My hands settle on her upper arms, smoothing over the soft cotton of her sweater, absorbing the heat of her skin as it seeps through the fabric. “But that’s not what love is.” We’re so close, my voice lowers to a hushed murmur, and Paige leans in close to catch the sound, her gaze focused on my mouth.
The sight of her entrancement fills me with satisfaction. I haven’t lost her.
“What is love?” She whispers.
“Love is being there for someone. Being strong for them. Caring about their happiness. Supporting their hopes and dreams. Love isn’t selfish. Love isn’t fear.” I swallow, the words heavy in my throat. “I haven’t had much experience with it, and that’s why I think I fucked it all up. But I want to show you how much I love you. The way you’ve been showing me.”
I hope my guess isn’t wrong. I’m rewarded with a grin brighter than high beams.
“You figured out I love you, huh?”
I wrap an arm around Paige’s waist, pulling her flush against me. My other hand goes to cup the back of her head, tilting it at just the right angle for my mouth to tease hers.
Hell, I missed the dusky taste of her lips against mine. But I don’t sink into oblivion with her. A few more words need to be said.
“I’m sorry for hurting you. I only want to love you.”
Paige blinks up at me. “You were planning on moving to New York?”
My nod brushes our noses, and she smiles so sweetly my teeth ache.
“I can petition my parole officer to leave the state. But even if I was denied, parole doesn’t last forever. When I’m a free man, nothing can stop me from being where you are.”
Paige sighs and loops her arms around my neck. “Don’t worry, Dash. I won’t make you chase me. I fell in love with New Orleans almost as fast as I fell for you.”
