“If you see anything strange, you call meimmediatelyand comestraighthome.”
“Baby, please? We really don’t have to go…”
“Yes, you do.” His shaky voice only expresses his pain, and it kills me inside. “It’s go—” He has to swallow again. “Good for you.” He opens the door and helps me in, then buckles my seatbelt like he loves to do. When he pulls away, he slips one hand into my mine and holds my head in his palm. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
He crashes his lips to mine, kissing me with barely contained anxiety and worry, and then before I can lean into him, he pullsaway and shuts the door. I watch him walk away in the rearview mirror, feeling like the worst wife in the world.
I should stay. I should argue with him until I’m blue in the face, but a part of me thinks that’ll just be worse. If I stay, I would be undermining him. He would feel like he’s holding me back. It’s only for a couple of hours…
I turn the car over and put it in reverse, then back out slowly, sure not to hit anyone or God forbid, his bike. As I turn and prepare to drive off, I look over at him again. Grease and Viking are standing by the motorcycle, chatting away and waving their arms around in excitement, but Damien is just looking at me. He’s still at least a few feet away from the Harley like it’ll bite him, and the tautness in his neck is clear.
It breaks my damn heart, but I wave to him sadly and drive off anyway.
“Okay. So, the one store I was telling you about has that ‘Dream Sock’ monitor and the camera that Damien wants. Plus, the reviews on their cloth diapers arecrazygood, and I know you wanted to try those.” Ser keeps going, but I would be lying if I said I was listening. I’m too busy glancing in the rearview as I turn onto the main road. Damien’s standing at the top of the hill, watching me drive away, and I can’t help but tear up.
Before I can move my gaze to the road, Elizabeth catches my attention. She’s staring out of the window in wonder, like she’s soaking up every second of this. Her arms are clutching onto her bunny stuffed animal, but she doesn’t look fearful.
“Are you excited?” I ask her and try to put on a fake smile. Daisy pokes her head out from the back seat and licks her on the cheek, making her giggle as she nods back at me. A small, real grin pulls at my lips, and I try to go back to listening to Serena. I should’ve known that she would try to turn this into some huge haul.
We get about halfway down the mountain when a roaring engine draws my attention. I glance up in the mirror again at just the right time. A motorcycle charges up behind me, driving like a bat out of hell, and the moment that familiar leather jacket comes into view, I can’t help but blush.
That’smyman.
Myhusband.
Mystalker.
We finally pull up to the light at the bottom of the mountain, and I roll my window down as he pulls up beside me. The bike does sound amazing. I roll down my window and inhale the scent of its exhaust, breathing it in like it could save my life. He looks so incredibly hot sitting on that motorcycle. We’re not moving anymore, but the way he sits up straight and holds the handlebars so tightly just reminds me of his grip on my throat.
"Good afternoon, officer,” I tease. “I know I wasn't speeding, and I'm not sure my husband would appreciate you flirting with me." My lips pull into a genuine smile, imagining his own shit-eating grin under his helmet.
"Yeah, I don't think he'd like that at all." Damien’s tone is smug, and fuck, it warms my heart. He’s back—not that he was evergonein the first place, but right now, in this moment, hefeelslike himself. My stalker isalwaysright on my tail, and the elation in my chest is unlike anything else. The back of my eyes get hot, and I know if I don’t keep talking, I’ll start crying.
"You're on your bike, baby."
"Yeah. I guess I am." He crosses his arms and tilts his head.
"Are you going to keep following me?" I raise a brow and give my best attempt at being annoyed—even though I’m clearly not. He places one hand on my door and leans in, sure that I can feel his stare behind his visor.
"I'll follow you anywhere," he says in that deep, growly voice. I keep his stare and sink into my seat, afraid that I might explode from all of the love building in my chest.
"You're crazy."
"Yeah. It must be that OAD."
I laugh so hard that I think I actually pee a little. In my defense, I’m sitting down and this massive man’s daughter is pressing against my bladder. Obsessive Ashia Disorder may not be a true diagnosis, but knowing him, he’ll have Dr. Von label it anyway.
"Yeah, must be,” I joke back and catch the light just as it turns green. “Meet you at the store?”
“I have a feeling we’ll get there at the same time.”
I giggle again and shake my head as we pull off, barely catching Victoria’s own head bob in the mirror.
“There is something wrong with you two.” Her tone is soft despite her hateful words, and the small smile on her face tells me she didn’t mean it in a bad way. Serena just laughs and makes a ‘mhm’ noise. Poor Elizabeth is looking around the car, wondering what the hell we’re all talking about, and then she looks up to Daisy like she would also have any idea.
I pick up my phone and hand it to Ser, trying like hell to ignore her curious stare.
