The shattered pieces of my heart she put back together.
Grace brought me back to life.
I’m just terrified, so fucking terrified to hear the proclamation come from her lips.
Because what if one day, after all the battles we have fought, all my faults and bad days, it will cause that love to admit defeat and leave me alone on the battle field.
“Have you told her?” He asks innocently after we both let go of each other.
I shake my head. “I haven’t.” Because I’m too fucking scared. Can’t exactly say that to him, though.
“You should tell her,” he says encouragingly with a small smile on his face. As if it’s that easy. And I suppose it is, just not for me.
“I will.” And I will. One day. When I know that I’ll be able to hear the words back without my mind wanting to self-destruct.
Connor, however, seems appeased, and returns to watching arguably the best Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes back.
I glance down at my watch, the face on my inner wrist, and see that it’s close to Grace’s shift ending.
Since we are at the house and not the trailer I feel marginally better with leaving Connor here. It’s still not the best scenario, and the major part of me screams to tag him along.
But Connor has assured me that he’s safe. Way safer than when he would have to lock himself in his room at the trailer because of their mom.
One thing Hollows Point does is rob the kids of their youth.
“You call me the minute something seems off, you understand?” I tell him in a tone that leaves no arguing.
He nods his head and pulls out his phone to sit on his lap. “You’re on my favorite contact list. But I’ll be fine. I can handle myself.”
“I have no doubts about that, champ,” I tell him and then add, “but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
“I know,” he agrees easily. I’m sure he’s heard this talk over a million of times with his sister.
Nodding my head at Connor I give him one more ruffle to his hair. He smiles brightly before ducking away and playfully punching me in the gut.
As I go to grab the keys to my bike I hear the rumbling of a car outside of the driveway as headlights appear through the front window.
Knowing Grace still has an hour and half left of her shift and she hasn’t contacted me I look at Connor and place my finger over my lips for him to keep quiet. He pauses the movie and sits incredibly still.
I hear the car door shut the same time I peek through the front window’s blinds.
And as soon as I see her everything inside me comes alive.
“Is it my sister?” Connor asks innocently.
Dropping the blind that was held up by my finger I turn to him and raise my brow. “How did you know that?”
“Because you’re different when she’s around.”
Interest piqued I ask, “How?”
“Your body relaxes,” he explains. “And anyone who can see knows you’re in love with her. You go soft, you know. Heart eyes and everything.”
“You should really think about being a detective when you grow up,” I say to him, impressed at his skills on reading body language.
“I actually want to be a doctor.”
“Really?”
