I swallowed, eyes on the road. “I know.”
The headlights on the cliff stayed in my peripheral vision as I pulled onto the beach road.
I drove Mila home with one hand on the wheel and the other holding hers, because I couldn’t control what was moving around us.
But I could make sure she never stood in it alone.
When I glanced in the rearview mirror at the last turn, the headlights were still there on the cliff, unmoving, as if someone had decided our hour of peace had been borrowed—and they wanted it back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MILA
Luke’s hand had been steady on the steering wheel, fingers loose, posture relaxed in that way he carried himself when he was pretending nothing could touch him. He tensed, and I felt the shift in his demeanor before I understood it. Headlights flashed across the cliffside road behind us.
His jaw clenched. Not dramatically. Not enough for anyone else that would notice. But I had.
I glanced in the side mirror and saw nothing but fading dusk. Whoever had been there hadn’t followed. But Luke had registered their presence as an issue. I shouldn’t have taken offense to him denying there was a problem when I’d asked, but it bothered me.
With my hand in his—after our brief conversation about how keeping me in the dark wasn’t protecting me—I let it go. He heard me, and it was entirely possible he was keeping his own mind on the subject because he didn’t know for sure if that car had meant anything. Regardless, we were going away for two days. Did it really matter right now? I didn’t want it to. Spending time with nothing to worry about was what I wanted, not more problems.
The drive home seemed both too short and long all at once.
The lights were on inside when we pulled into the driveway. Mom wouldn’t be in bed this early. The nice thing was I knew she was home because Edwardo was there. Warmth unfurled in my stomach, and I realized how much I liked them both being there when I got home. It was… normal. Not something Mom and I had experienced in a long time, if ever.
Luke stepped out first. Then he came around to my side and opened my door. I got out, and we threaded our fingers together as if it was the most natural thing to do. The press of his palm against mine offered comfort that let the last tiny remnants of unease melt away.
He walked me to the door and I turned to face him. “So, what’s the plan?” I wasn’t clear on when we were leaving for Theo’s family’s vacation home, if it was immediate or in the morning.
“We’ll leave tonight. I’ll take you to grab your things, and then we’ll stop to get mine.”
“Okay, sounds good.” I wound my arms around his neck and tilted my head back as he leaned down.
The brush of his lips against mine sent a jolt of need coursing through me. A bright beam spotlighted us as the porch light flared to life. We both separated, and I scrunched my nose. “Maybe I don’t like having them home,” I groused.
Luke laughed as I opened the door. I went to shut it behind me but stopped short. “Oh, you’re coming in?” His large body filled the doorway before he stepped in and shut the door behind me. He winked, and I rolled my eyes. Not sure what him being there would do when I told Mom and Edwardo I was ditching school.
Mom and Edwardo were sitting very cozy next to each other on the couch, a movie playing on the TV. Her gaze flickedbetween us, something unreadable moving behind her eyes. “You’re back earlier than I expected,” she noted.
“Yeah, about that,” I rushed out before Luke could say anything. “We were at a bonfire with friends and decided to go to Theo’s mountain house for the next two days,” I replied, walking past her into the entryway before she could pivot the conversation.
I left Luke where he was, directly in front of Edward—good luck, Luke!He’d decided to follow me inside so he was on his own.
“Tonight?” Mom’s voice was directly behind me as she’d trailed me to my room.
“Yep.”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
“Yeah, I know. But plans change.” It was spontaneous. A little reckless. And I loved every second of it.
Low conversation traveled from the living room, the TV paused. I could hear Luke’s response of “I understand. I won’t let anything happen to her.” The words resonated in me, and I had to fight the smile from spreading.
“Mila, Ed’s here for a reason.” Her hand curled around my arm. “And so was his brother.”
I stopped rifling through my drawer and faced her, causing her hand to drop away. “I know. And I’m really grateful that Edwardo came here because I’m not worried about you all the time, and he’ll do everything in his power to keep you safe.”
Her expression softened.
