“They asked you to go with them, didn’t they? That’s why they came?”
I flick my eyes to meet hers, then have to look away again. “Yeah.”
“Do you…? Do youwantto go?”
“I…” I inhale slowly. “I’ll miss them, that’s all.” I look back at Sinclair. “I’m not leaving you. Or your family.”
Her lips curl into a gentle smile. “I know.”
I exhale slowly, the pressure that began in my chest the moment Lizzie told me about her plans easing for the first time. “Good. As long as you know that.”
“I do.”
She watches me carefully as I lift our joined hands to kiss inside her wrist.
“I love you, Sinclair,” I rasp against her silky skin, kissing her again. “I love you so damn much, Princess. I’m not going anywhere.”
38
DENVER
The adjacent elevatordoors are sliding closed as I step out of the one I’ve ridden up in. There are only a few apartments whose main doors are on the same level as Sinclair’s. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen an elevator getting used by someone else when I’ve been here.
I knock at her door, one hand holding the travel mug she brought for me this morning. Only now it’s filled with a smoothie for her from her favorite truck. My eyes drop to the sticker I’ve stuck to the mug. It’s a cartoon banana, with the text,‘I find you very appeeling.’My lips quirk. It’s Sinclair and Molly all over, they’ll love it.
Lizzie and Dixie left not long after Sinclair drove away. I hated letting her go, but we straightened everything out. She knows now. She knows who they are, and she knows the demons from my past. Why I’m extra protective over her. Why I’m obsessed with her safety.
I can’t lose her.
I wouldn’t survive it.
She’s taking longer than usual to answer, so I knock again.
The only thing we need to do now is tell Sterling together. I crack my neck, which does nothing to ease the tension that melds itself to my muscles each time I think about how I’m lying to him. But no matter what he says, I’ll handle it. I’ll take anything he can throw at me. As long as he doesn’t ask me to give up his daughter.
No one could ever make me leave her willingly.
“Denver.” Sinclair smiles as she opens the door, and my heart skips a fucking beat at the way my name sounds coming from her lips. But it stops dead like it’s had a thousand volts blasted through it as I look at her face.
“You’ve been crying.”
“What? No, I haven’t.”
“Your eyes are red, don’t lie to me.” Unease prickles up my spine as she flaps her lips searching for an excuse.
She’s never speechless.
She was fine when she left me a few hours ago.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine.” She takes the travel mug from my hand and looks at the sticker on it. “I’ve not seen this one before.” She tries to smile, but it’s weak, too affected by whatever’s made her eyes puffy.
“Is it because of Liz wearing my?—?”
“No.No,” she repeats more firmly. “I know nothing was going on. I haven’t even thought of that again, it’s nothing… I…”
She trails off, probably hoping I’ll drop it, so I change tactics. “What were you doing before I got here?”
