“I have to go, Mom.”
“This isn’t over, Alice. Lance’s family won’t let this stand. And neither will I.”
She hangs up before I can respond.
I set my phone down and look at Sawyer. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
“You don’t have to apologize. She’s wrong, you know.”
“I know she is. But she’s never going to see it that way.” I sit down heavily on my couch. “She works for Lance's family. Has for years. I think her paycheck matters more than I ever did.”
Sawyer sits down next to me. “That doesn’t mean she’s right.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I lean back against the cushions, suddenly tired. “I just wish she could take my side for once. Just once.”
I look at him, really look at him. “Thank you. For everything. For protecting me, for fixing my door, for just believing me.”
Sawyer reaches over and takes my hand. “You don’t have to thank me for caring about you.”
Before I can say anything, he leans closer. This time, no phone interrupts us. His hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing my cheek, and I can feel my heart pounding.
But then he stops, his forehead resting against mine.
"I want to kiss you," he whispers. "But not like this. Not when you're still processing everything that happened yesterday. Not when you're exhausted and your mother just—" He pulls back slightly, and I can see the restraint in his eyes. "You deserve better than me kissing you in the middle of all this chaos."
My breath catches. I reach up to adjust my glasses—they'd gone crooked from how close we were. "What if I want the chaos?"
"Then I'll still be here tomorrow. And the day after that." He takes my hand and squeezes it. "I'm not going anywhere, Alicat. When I kiss you, I want you to have no doubts. No trauma echoing in your head. No mother's voice telling you you're not enough." His voice softens. "I want you to be completely certain."
"I am certain," I say quietly.
"Good." He smiles, that soft smile that makes my chest feel warm. "Then we have all the time in the world."
I pull out my phone and delete my mother's contact. I don't need her voice in my head anymore.
Sawyer watches but doesn't comment. He just squeezes my hand.
For the first time since Lance came back into my life, everything feels right.
But even as I sit here in this perfect moment, my mother's words echo in my head: "This isn't over."
I push the thought away.
For now, I let myself believe it.
Chapter 24
Sawyer
It’safterlunchandI’m halfway through my reports when Chief Martinez calls me into his office. The tone in his voice tells me this isn’t about scheduling or routine business.
“Close the door and have a seat,” he says, not looking up from a file on his desk.
I do as he asks and wait. The office smells like burnt coffee and old paperwork. Chief Martinez has been running this department for fifteen years, and I’ve learned to read his moods. Right now, he looks like a man dealing with something he’d rather not be dealing with.
This can’t be good.
“I’ve gotten a complaint filed against you,” he says finally, sliding the file across his desk. “It’s from Tracy Campbell. Does that name ring a bell?”
