“Mmm, I love colliding with you. Remember that first time when we got back together? You weren’t supposed to be anywhere near me. It was all so forbidden and so hot.”
“Against a wall, as I recall.”
“Hey, that’s a rhyme.”
She snickered and kissed his chest. “You’re the only person in the world who could make me laugh when I’m trying to have a serious meltdown.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your meltdown. Please proceed accordingly.”
Smiling, she kissed her way to his jaw, which was sprinkled with whiskers. She loved him with a little stubble, but the rest of the world saw him only clean-shaven and put together. “I’ve lost interest in my meltdown. I’m just so fucking relieved that Ethan is safe.”
“Are you planning to talk to Tracy and Mike about making some changes?”
“Not sure I’ll have to say anything after this.”
“Maybe you should anyway.”
“It’s a tough spot to be in to be spouting off on what they should do when my own kids are under full-time protection.”
“You’d be spouting off as a seasoned law enforcement officer in the city their son wants to run around in unsupervised.”
“We’ll see if the opportunity presents itself. It’s a very fine line for me to walk in light of how protected our kids are.”
“I know.”
As she yawned, she asked him, “What time is it?”
“Six thirty.”
“AM or PM?”
“PM.”
“Oh good. I was afraid I’d slept for twelve hours.”
“Nah, just about four or so.”
“Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
“Sorry if I disturbed you.”
He pulled her in closer and pushed a leg between hers. “I love when you disturb me, but I hate to see you upset.”
“I’m okay now. Thank you for being my soft place to land in the madness. You always make things better.”
“Give yourself some time to process everything that’s happened in the last couple of weeks. It’s been a lot.”
“It’s always a lot.”
“This has been an extra-punishing stretch, even by our standards.”
“Yeah, it has.”
“Why don’t you take a few days off? You have more leave on the books than you could use in a lifetime. Your family has been through an ordeal. You’ve been through a couple of them. No one would fault you for taking a break.”
She tucked her hand under his T-shirt, looking for warm skin. “I might actually do that. I’m mentally and physically exhausted.”
