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“Do you think they know my name?”
“If they do, they didn’t mention it. I’ve searched every article I could find and there’s nothing.”
My eyes stung. “It will never be over, will it?”
“No,” she said, her expression solemn. “I’ll let you know what Daniel says.”
I nodded and she folded me in her arms.
“I thought I could disappear,” I whispered.
“You don’t have to. You’ve got people here who love you. Don’t forget that.”
I huddled on the sofa,the tea cup in my hand trembling as I brought it to my lips.
“I didn’t mean to run her off.” Holt sank down next to me and took a long slog of water. “Why haven’t you changed?”
“I haven’t been home long. Mrs. Quinn dropped by and . . .” I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
“You’re shaking.” He set his water down and took my cup from my hands.
He opened his arms, his fingers flexing like he wanted to reach for me. But he gave me the choice. I crawled across the sofa and burrowed into him.
“I’ve got you.”
I clutched his sides, fisting his T-shirt. All I wanted to do was weep. For the people who’d suffered. For the girl I’d been. For the boy who’d been so lost.
Holt stroked my hair and feathered kisses along the top of my head. “Want to talk about it?”
I shook my head, though I suspected he probably already knew the answer to that.
“This isn’t about me? This afternoon?”
I sat up and furrowed my brow. “No,” I said hoarsely as I searched his face.
He relaxed into the sofa. “Do you want to do this thing, Easy? For real?”
I pressed my palms into his thighs and stared at him. “Kinda feels like we already are.”
He brushed my hair back from my face. “I know what I said. That I can’t.” He looked down. “I don’t know if I’m capable of full trust. But you make me want to try.”
My heart stopped. We'd been doing this dance around commitment, and that he wanted to make a go at a relationship was thrilling and terrifying at once.
“I don’t want the past to get in the way. Can we pretend like neither of ours ever happened?”
His lips twitched. “Another reason why we’re perfect for each other.”
I snuggled back into him. “I’ve been thinking about the garage. About your offer.”
“Yeah?”
I played with the hem of his T-shirt. “I want to take you up on it.”
He grasped my arms and pulled me so he could look at me. “You do?”
I nodded. “Let’s get the garage running first. We can clean up the upstairs space after. Then think about remodeling or whatever.”
“What changed your mind?”
