“No regrets, right?”
“Obviously, you beautiful buffoon.” She leaned over and kissed me. “It was…awesome. I’m mad I waited so long to experience that, but that’s where you come in. I don’t think it would’ve been as profound if it wasn’t you.”
Tell her. Don’t be a huge asshole.
“I have something I need to talk to you about,” I said, my voice getting tight and my throat closing up like I’d run three miles without water. Her entire body stiffened and the happiness in her eyes faded. “Want to shower before we talk?”
“No, Brigham.” She sat up, naked and beautiful, and bit her lip as uncertainty crossed her face. “You don’t regret this, right?”
“Baby, last night, this morning, hell, yesterday too. Best twenty-four hours of my life.” I pulled her onto my lap so our skin touched. It comforted me to feel her warmth. “So get any ideas like that out of your blue-haired head.”
She blushed. “Okay, well, when you put it like that.”
“Yeah.” I tilted her chin up, kissed her softly because I was selfish and wanted another kiss without my future hanging over us. She smiled against my mouth before putting a hand on my chest and pushing. “Hey.”
“You cannot tell a human theyneed to talkbefore distracting said human with kissing. Speak your piece, Monaghan.”
“Right.” I sighed and my stomach twisted to the point it hurt. “The call I got yesterday…if the prosecutor wants to charge me with a felony, there is a chance I could go to jail for resisting arrest. I wasn’t going to tell you. At least, not yesterday.”
“I knew it.” She hit my shoulder and slammed her lips together in a hard frown. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because yesterday was about you. Your future, your dream. I didn’t want to spoil it.” I waited, tried reading her face and only took a calming breath when her expression softened.
“You are the sweetest man. Idiotic, sure, but sweet. If we’re together, like I think we are, then we should share that stuff.” She repositioned herself so she straddled me, both of us naked and sweaty, but I needed her touch. “Okay, so when would you find out?”
“When my lawyer calls. They might want to do a plea deal, which, if I accept, there is a chance Los Soles could trade me or drop me.”
“That’s the last thing you want, right?”
“Correct.” My jaw hurt as I ground my teeth, avoiding telling her the truth of it all. “I was going to end things with you.”
She blinked and pressed her lips together for a few seconds before narrowing her eyes at me with a bit of pride. “Because…you didn’t want me to be a part of that? Because you thought I would end it if you left? I think I understand your intentions, but I’d like to hear them anyway.”
Relief was a form of ecstasy. For a minute, I thought she would slap me or end it because of my shitshow life. But she didn’t. Not Sarah Blue, with her positive outlook and trusting nature. I crushed her against me in a hug. “Thank you. Fuck, I-I don’t deserve you. I really don’t.”
“We’ll see. Now talk.”
“Your life is just getting started. The business launch and opening, you going for your dream. Mine could be ending. If I’m traded, or let go, or in fucking jail, the last thing you need is me bringing you down. It’s asking too much of you to put in effort with me when it should go toward your business.”
“Admirable, yes. But, for the record, if we are going to continue this—which I would like very much—don’t make decisions for me.” She pursed her lips and arched one eyebrow, daring me to argue. I wouldn’t. I could show signs of intelligence sometimes. I nodded and took her hand again.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“So what does this mean? A lot has happened in the past twenty-four hours. A hell of a lot.”
“True.” I swallowed. “I don’t know. I know I don’t want to walk away from you, from this, because it’s the happiest I’ve been in a long time. But if I get charged…” My hands shook a bit and Sarah’s jaw tightened. “We can talk about it then.”
“I know this is easier said than done and I’m the queen of not leading by example, but let’s try not to worry about this stuff until it happens. What if the place I want more than air isn’t available anymore? What if my business goes bankrupt and I have to move in with my parents? What if it catches fire? What if I fail? All we can do is keep pushing forward. Like you are. Play your baseball and keep fighting.”
Play my baseball.“God, you’re the fucking cutest.” I stood and picked her up, carrying her to the bathroom. “We’re going to shower and I’m going to spend a lot of time cleaning your tits, then I want to hear about this place you’re looking at. Okay?”
She blushed and buried her face into my neck. “Okay.”
* * * *
The next day, Sarah paced the living room in her super-short denim shorts and a pale blue tank top, with two dogs following her every move. I could only smile at the picture she made—hair still wet but pulled up, and red cheeks from her constant blush. I adored her. She met my eyes, winked and went back to the call with her relator. “So if I tour tomorrow and like it, they want to wait until November to close? It’s August!”
She groaned and plopped onto the couch, crossing her legs only to get up again. “Fine. Yeah. That works. I’ll see you next weekend and we can talk next steps. Thanks, Mel.” She hung up and quickly jotted something down on her planner. “I get to see it tomorrow.”
