“I know, baby.” I lean down and kiss her, savoring every second of our joining, committing every moment of this to memory because I never want to forget what this feels like.
Forever.
“I love you,” she says as tears spill out of her eyes.
“I love you too,” I whisper, my vision turning blurry.
“God, this is everything,” she whimpers as we continue gently thrusting against one another, content to wallow in these languid, heavenly sensations without frantically chasing that ultimate high.
“You’re everything, Pres.” I squeeze her fingers. “And things are going to be fine because you and I are meant to be together. We were meant to spend our lives together, and I am going to do everything to make sure that happens.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Presley
“Are you sure you’re okay to come back so soon?” Ford asks me on Thursday when I show up at five for my shift.
I dart forward, kissing his cheek. “I’m good. Thank you for caring. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re my friend. Of course, I care.”
“I’m lucky I have you and Mo and Kent and his family.” I truly am because the people I’ve had to rely on in the past have been a small group. Now Chris is gone, and Clay is AWOL, and my anger has transformed to worry that something has happened to him. “Hey,” I add before he leaves the bar. “Could you do me a favor? Could you ask around about Clay? I haven’t heard from him in months, and I’m worried.”
He rubs the back of his head, averting his eyes, and I stalk toward him, forcing his face to mine. “Out with it.”
“I asked around after Chris, you know…”
I nod because it’s still hard to say the word.
“I knew you’d need Clay. He’s still on business in New York.” A muscle clenches in his jaw.
“Your intel is legit?” He nods, and my anger returns full steam. “I am so freaking mad at him. I can’t believe he hasn’t called me back and that he didn’t show up for Chris.” It’s unforgivable. I don’t care they hadn’t spoken in recent times. For years, it was just the three of us, and Chris deserved better.
“Word on the street is they are brokering this big alliance with some notorious New York gang and Clay is The Vipers’ main negotiator. I’m sure he would’ve been here if he could.”
I plant my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes. “Is that what you really think?”
He sighs. “You know it’s not. I just don’t want to upset you.”
“I appreciate the gesture, but I’m already pissed at him.”
“I’m pissed on your behalf. He’s the closest thing you have to a fucking brother, and he couldn’t find five fucking minutes to call you? He’s got to know how this would affect you. He’d better have a real good fucking explanation for abandoning you.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of fucks. You’re really mad.”
“I am. If anyone fucks with you, they have me to answer to.”
I hug him, my heart bursting with love for my friend.
“Don’t let Kennedy hear you say that,” Mo teases, emerging from the staff room. We indulge in a quick hug. “He considers it his job now.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I like him,” Ford says, smiling at me. “He really cares about you.”
“He does, and I feel the same way about him,” I admit.
“Then why won’t you move in with him?” Mo asks. “Officially,” she adds, using little air quotes. “I mean, you already have a key, and you practically live there most of the time, and his place is fucking huge and so beautiful. Girl, if it was me, I’d have been moved in the very next day.”
“I have my reasons.” Although, they seem less important now. I wanted to hold on to my apartment to assert my independence, but Mo is right. I stay with Kent most nights, and now that I’ve asked Rafe if I can cut my shifts in half, because I want to focus on growing my side business, it doesn’t make sense to hold on to my place.
