Other than the strange feeling that I got at the car lot. And at the store with Arlo. There’s no way it was him, though. I’d put all those encounters out of my mind. They’re not real.
I should probably tell Austin about them, but really, what would I say? I have a weird feeling, but no proof to back it up? The last time that happened, he went into the woods in the middle of the night, and I was wrong.
It made me feel like I was losing my mind, and I’m not in any big hurry to repeat that.
“I want to drive you to and from work from now on,” Austin says.
“What?Why?”
Austin gapes at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Did you not hear what I just said?”
“Yes.” What I’m failing to understand is why that matters. “But… Why would you need to drive me?”
After blinking at me in silence with a disbelieving expression, Austin scoffs. “Someone islookingfor you. Asking questions about you. I know you’re sending Ma home and closing by yourself.”
I shrug. “Yeah, it’s not a big deal.”
“Baby.” Austin grabs my face in his hands gently, tilting my headback until we’re almost nose to nose. “Someone is sneaking around, asking intrusive questions about you, and I—” His voice cuts off, and he shakes his head. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
“What does driving me to and from work accomplish?” I ask. I know I’m being stubborn, and it’s really not that big of a deal, but my independence is important to me. Now more than ever.
Austin squeezes his eyes closed, inhaling a deep breath through his nose. “It makes me feel better. Then I know that no one is following you to your car… or—or waiting for you in the alley.”
A sliver of fear runs down my spine. Have I gotten too comfortable here? Have I let my guard down too much? Even just last month, this conversation would have made me a nervous wreck. I’m becoming complacent. But goddammit, I think I’m allowed that. I’m allowed a life where I don’t have the constant need to look over my shoulder.
“I’m safe now,” I say, my voice wavering. “I don’t want to live like I’m not.”
“I’m—” Austin’s voice is so choked that it’s making my heart ache. “I’m not asking you to… to—I don’t know. I don’t expect you to stay home and not be yourself, but just a little bit of caution. Please, Luca? Please.”
Fuck. His warm brown eyes are locked on mine, pleading with me. He’s worried. He’s truly, genuinely worried. I sigh. “Okay. Fine. You can take me to and from work.”
He seems to almost sag in relief. It’s such a small thing, but if it’ll make him feel better, I’ll do it. “I don’t like it, though. It feels like I’m letting Damien win.”
“You’re not,” Austin whispers. “You’re not. You’re lettingmewin. Don’t think about it like he’s getting one over on you. Thinkabout it like you’re doing it for me.”
“Iamdoing it for you,” I say, because I’m sure as shit not doing it because I’m afraid of Damien. He can’t touch me now. Not with Austin. Hell, not even with me. I’m too far removed from his manipulation. I don’t rely on him anymore. Not to mention, I can take Jasper to the ground in two seconds flat.
Austin blows out a slow breath. “Thank you, baby.”
This whole thing has brought down my mood. It’s not Austin’s fault, of course, but still. I sigh. “You’re welcome. Can we please eat dinner now?”
Austin lets his hands fall away from my face, sitting back with a nod. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s nice to be the focus of someone’s worry.”
There’s a beat of silence before Austin barks out a loud laugh. “I can’t believeyou’renot worried.”
“I mean…” I lean forward to pick up Austin’s bowl, placing it in his hands before grabbing my own and settling cross-legged on the couch, facing him. “Iamworried,” I admit, bringing a spoonful of stew to my mouth. My eyes damn near roll back. Holy fuck, that’s so good. I chew for a second, then swallow. “But,” I continue. “I’m not going to let Damien take anything else from me. It’s been all this time, and he hasn’t tried anything. I have no reason to believe he will.”
Sure, it’s suspicious that some random man is asking questions about me, but I just need to make sure I’m paying attention to my surroundings, and I should be fine.
Austin takes a bite, and a smile breaks out on my face when he moans. “Good, huh?” I say, gesturing toward his bowl.
“It is,” he mumbles. “But don’t distract me.” I don’t think I need to. Dinner is doing a good enough job on its own because he takesthree more bites before finally speaking again. “Jesus. Okay. I get it. I understand that you don’t want to live in fear. Just… Fuck—just be careful, baby. Okay? I just fucking got you back. I can’t lose you already.”
The pure agony in his voice has something deep inside me aching. I carefully pull the bowl of stew from his hands and climb into his lap, pressing my body flush against his. “You’re not going to lose me,” I whisper.
Earnest brown eyes blink up at me. “You don’t know that, Luc. And the idea terrifies me.”
