“It seems to be here to stay,” I admitted. “Though I can’t guarantee that’ll always be the case.”
Since I didn’t know what had caused me to stop talking or why my brain had refused to work in tandem with my vocal cords all these years, I figured there was a chance I would one day relapse. For now, I wasn’t going to worry about it.
“You need anything?” I asked.
Laikyn shook her head. “Maybe to sit with you for a while. If that’s okay.”
I took her hand and led her onto the patio. I pulled her down next to me, not releasing her. I was afraid to. I didn’t want her to disappear.
When she leaned against me, I put my arm around her shoulders, holding her close. I didn’t know how long we sat like that, but it was long enough for Laikyn to fall asleep, safe in my arms for a little while longer, at least.
33
Rule
The moment I saw Laikyn and Jinxon the couch, my heart jumped into my throat.
I knew she was back in LA because Creed had texted earlier to let me know she made it safe and sound. I hadn’t realized that she’d come straight home, though. Part of me had expected to learn she had gone back to her mother’s. After all, she told me yesterday that she never wanted to see me again.
I’d spent a good part of last night lying in bed with Jinx beside me, trying to figure out the best way to fix this. If anyone was capable, it was me, right? I was the Hollywood Fixer. Fixing things was literally in my title.
And I would. Fix this. No matter what it took, when I was staring at the ceiling, reflecting back on every vivid memory of Laikyn, I decided I wasn’t willing to let her go. Laikyn and Jinx were the best things life had given me, and I was smart enough to know that they were worth fighting for. With that said, I honestly figured it was going to take time simply to get her to talk to me again, much less to come here. So, seeing her there, sleeping against Jinx’s side … it was difficult to breathe.
When I moved closer, Waldo lifted his head and gave me a cursory glance before huffing and going back to sleep. The sound was enough to draw Jinx’s attention, and he turned to look at me.
It felt ridiculous to admit, but I was seeing Jinx differently than I had before recent events. Last night had changed my outlook completely. I hadn’t realized until he forced me to that I’d never surrendered myself completely to him before. I’d never allowed myself to truly accept what we had. My feelings for him were now as vivid as the blue sky overhead. I loved him.
Yeah, it was weird to acknowledge it, but it was like I didn’t have a choice. I loved him. It was a fact. I couldn’t change it, and I didn’t want to. Now I had to learn to live with it.
“How long has she been here?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
Jinx glanced at the cell phone sitting on the arm of the couch. “Two hours, I guess.”
She looked peaceful. Much different than she had yesterday when she was ripping me a new one in the hotel room. It was hard to admit, but I missed her. I’d gotten used to having her in my bed each night. Jinx had, too, and though we hadn’t slept alone, her absence had been palpable.
“Is she open to conversation?” I asked, trying to gauge what I was dealing with.
“Yeah.”
I was still getting used to hearing his voice. I couldn’t explain the feeling I got whenever he spoke. I’d known this man for two decades, and I’d never heard a word out of his mouth, so to hear it now … it was a gift I’d never expected to receive.
Laikyn shifted, coming awake slowly, blinking a few times before her gaze locked on me.
“You’re home.”
The fact that she referred to this place as her home gave me hope.
“Yeah.”
“You think maybe we could talk?” she asked as she sat up, brushing her hair back from her face and swiping her fingers under her eyes.
I bit back the retort that hovered on the tip of my tongue. Reminding her that I’d tried yesterday wouldn’t help anything. She was here now, and that was all that mattered.
“I talked to Knox this morning.” Laikyn shifted over, putting some space between her and Jinx. “He explained to me about the trust.”
If she expected me to ask about it, she would be waiting for a while. I didn’t care about the money. Never had. Not for myself, anyway. I’d only ever wanted it for her. So she would have peace of mind and no longer have to be under her mother’s thumb. As I’d learned, Laikyn wasn’t safe with Monica.
“I’ve got a letter from my father,” she said, gesturing into the house. “I haven’t read it. I wanted to wait.”
