More of the pieces of my lostself clickedinto place. I found more of me. I became moreof me.
And it felt good.
For the first time in so long, Ifelt like me. Completely, wholly me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“We need to talk about something.”Killian showed up later that night, all black t-shirt, tattooed skin and sexybeard.
I cut my eyes to Molly, wondering ifI needed a rescue. Talk about what? I suddenly felt like I was in trouble forsomething. “Why?”
He crossed his arms, resting them onthe window and leaning in the truck. “When are you out of here?”
Uh, oh.
“Things have died down. I can bedone soon.” I cleared my throat and focused on the bread crumbs clinging to mychef’s coat. “Unless it picks up again. Then, it could be hours before Iclose.” I looked up. “Days even.”
His lips twitched. He rubbed a handover his mouth, hiding his reaction. “That busy, huh?”
I held my poker face. “Yep.”
He patted the inside of the truck,the muscles in his tanned forearms flexing and shifting. “I’ll be back in anhour.”
He said goodbye to Molly and startedwalking backward. I panicked and called after him. “Then what?”
He quirked an eyebrow at me. “Thenwe talk.”
I stepped to the window. “Aboutwhat?”
He smiled, flashing white teethsurrounded by dark, alluring beard. “Don’t be so nervous,Delane.If I bite, I promise you’ll like it.”
Turning around, he darted across thestreet, leaving me nervous for an entirely different reason now.
“Vera,” Molly asked in a quietvoice, “Do you just spontaneously orgasm all the time when he’s around?”
I leaned against the window andbugged my eyes out. “Yes,” I agreed. “All the time.”
“Seriously, though, are you okay?What does he want to talk to you about?”
I shook my head, tension curlinginside me once again. “I have no idea. He makes me so nervous.”
She released a bubbly laugh,reminding me my fears were probably unfounded. “Why?”
Shrugging, I moved back to thegalley so I could start cleaning up. “Habit, I think? I don’t know. He’s sointense. I never know whether to call him on his bullshit or just strip nakedso he can have his way with me.” I looked up at her. “Maybe I’ll try shrinkinginto a ball and seeing what that gets me.”
Molly lifted a finger, wiggling itat me. “No shrinking. You’re done shrinking, Vere. You were meant to shine,friend. End of story.”
I wrinkled my nose and tried tobelieve her. “That’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“The best things in life never are,”she reminded me. “Doesn’t mean they’re not worth pursuing.”
My breath of relief came from somedeep recess of my soul, filled with truth and understanding and hope. For thefirst time in a long time… hope.
“Thanks, Molly. For tonight, and foreverything else too. For being there for me even when I shut you out and becamesomeone I’m not proud of.”
She closed the distance between us,wrapping me up in a hug. I hugged her back, finding closure in our relationshipI hadn’t let us breach before. “It doesn’t matter,” she promised. “All thatmatters is that you’re someone I’m beyond proud of now. You’re someone thatdidn’t break beneath the weight of something so ugly. You got out. You left.And you fought and fought and fought until you made something amazing. You’remy hero, Vera.”
I squeezed her tightly. “You’re myhero too, Molls.” And she was. For being the friend that didn’t judge and onlysupported. For being the woman who didn’t get herself into bad relationships. Notjust because she was quiet, and so sweet and nice, but for always sticking upfor herself. For never being the doormat. For being beautiful and kind andgiving. She was exactly who I wanted to be when I grew up.
