She said something, patted her purse on her side, and just like that, they took off.
By the time I reached her, she looked completely unbothered.
"Brooks, hi. Hey."
Her eyes were still bright, still full of that effortless joy, like she hadn’t just had to ward off two guys in a dark alley.
"What did they want?" My jaw was clenched so tight I could feel my molars grind together.
"Money. Drugs." She shrugged, like it was nothing. Like this was just another Tuesday for her. And then she laughed.
"Brooks, it’s fine. I told them I carry a loaded gun and would have no problem shooting their little dicks off. They took off real fast after that."
I stared at her, my stomach a knot of tension and disbelief.
"Wait." My voice came out tight. "Do you… do you carry?"
She tilted her head, smirk creeping across her lips. "Guess you’ll never know."
My fingers twitched at my sides, my entire body still wired, still on high fucking alert while she just… stood there.
Completely unfazed.
And then she jutted her chin toward my car. "A Lexus, huh? I pictured you as a Beamer guy."
I blinked. "What does that even mean?"
"Nothing bad." She shrugged, walking toward the car. "Just how I pictured you in my mind."
I opened the door for her, watching as she slid in so effortlessly, so unknowingly lethal to my self-control.
"You’ve been picturing me in your mind?" I smirked. "Am I naked?"
"Most of the time."
"Good answer."
I pulled her in for a hug, my grip tighter than necessary, like my body still needed to confirm she was safe, here, with me.
She grinned as I started the drive back to her place, but her voice was softer when she said, "I can’t believe I just saw you this morning. Feels like a week ago."
"I know what you mean." I reached for her hand and held on.
Her fingers curled around mine tightly, but when I asked, "Were you ever close with your mom?"
Her grip turned vice-like. Like my question had physically wounded her.
She sat straighter, and I could almost hear the cracks in her spine, the way she locked up at just the mention of it.
"No."
That single word was wrapped in barbed wire, fortified with every possible defense mechanism.
I let the silence stretch between us, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.
She wasn’t ready to talk.
And as much as I wanted to tear that word apart, unravel it, see what was hiding underneath, I knew if I pushed too hard, she’d retreat.
