“Not since that first week, no.”
He rolls the bottle in his hand. “It would be good if she could share some hope. So many women have very little left.”
“I’ll ask. But that’s all.”
The protective side of me has my shoulders back and my arms crossed over my chest. Lawson smiles.
“Ah, I get it now.”
“You get what?” My brows lower.
He says nothing, simply winking at me like a damn fool. He takes a mouthful of beer before swinging his gaze to the sofa. “Maybe I should ask Rubes about a bracelet. Another one couldn’t hurt,” he mutters.
What on earth?
“What stupid idea you got whirring around in that big brain of yours, Rawlins?” I side-eye him, and he chuckles.
“Only good things. For you, at least.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
He tilts his head and presses the beer to his lips.
You’ll keep, fucker.
Eventually, we migrate to the sofa, and the channel gets changed to a movie on free TV. This old man has no budget for streaming services. Maybe when I make captain...
Carlie gets up to use the bathroom, and Laws goes to pour her another wine and grab some more beers.
“Another drink, London?” Laws asks.
“No, I’m good, thanks.” She leans into my side.
I can’t stop thinking how incredible this feels.
Having her here and in my space. Not just here to see Petal or take care of me out of obligation because I’m part of her crew.
She’s justhere.
Something I do not take for granted.
The stark reality of how empty my life was before Petal and London stuns me temporarily. Which apparently shows over my face, because Laws claps a hand on my shoulder from behind. “We’ll get out of your way, Captain.”
But he’s not looking at me. His gaze is on London.
Confusion tightens her face as she twists on her seat to look up at him. “Thank you for spending time with us, Lawson. Carlie is great. We have the same taste in sitcoms.”
“You should come by and meet Millie sometime. She’d love to meet you, after all the stories we’ve told her about you tw?—”
London snaps her focus to me, raising an elegant brow.
“Don’t believe a word this redneck says, he’s high on that pretty woman of his.”
London chuckles and pushes up from the sofa and rounds the back, giving Lawson a hug as she says goodnight.
“If you’re giving those away, I’ll take one.” Carlie walks into the living room, arms wide. “It was so good to finally meet you.” Her eyes narrow and pin me to the seat.
I stand, and when they are both done saying their goodbyes, I fold London into my chest, dotting a kiss into her hair.
