That was Boone’s only response.
Mac brought the conversation back to the point. “So you held onto the fact that Miles did what he did for the last two weeks without saying a word?”
I nodded, the weight of it all dragging my shoulders down. “It wasn’t my choice not to tell you guys, it was to protect her.”
“I get it,” Boone said simply, and somehow, that was all the approval I needed. “I’m grateful she had you.”
His words hit harder than I expected, pressing into something soft and tender inside me. There was more there than just gratitude. It felt like quiet acceptance, a silent nod between us that I hadn’t screwed up beyond repair. That maybe, just maybe, he was okay with the idea of Ellie and me.
“I’d do anything for her,” I said, voice thick with truth.
Boone’s lips lifted in a subtle smile, followed by a short nod. That was all I needed to see.
“You got a good punch on him,” Rhodes added with a low whistle.
Mac grinned like he was proud. “It’s gonna leave a nasty mark.”
Despite the smirks, a flicker of worry passed through me. I just hoped I hadn’t upset Ellie. I hoped those tears hadn’t been because of me. If they were, I didn’t even know where to begin to make it right.
But I didn’t regret it—not one bit.
Miles needed to be put in his place. No man should get to lay his hands on a woman and walk away without consequence. Honestly, I wished I’d gotten in a few more hits.
Now that the adrenaline was ebbing, the dull throb in my knuckles was kicking in, each pulse reminding me of what had just happened. I flexed my hand, pain catching in my joints, and the guys all let out a chorus of knowing sounds.
“Hurts now, huh?” Rhodes asked, a teasing grin tugging at his mouth.
I gave a tight nod.
Mac moved to the freezer, pulled out an ice pack, and walked it over to me. I took it with a grunt of thanks and sat down, pressing it to my hand.
“I gotta head back downstairs. Make sure there’s no round two brewing,” Mac said, heading toward the door. “You stay up here as long as you need.”
“I’ll help him out,” Rhodes added, jerking his thumb over his shoulder before following Mac.
The door clicked closed behind them, leaving just Boone and me.
The silence that settled wasn’t awkward, just full. Full of everything that had been said. Everything that hadn’t.
I stayed in the chair, ice pack resting against my hand, legs stretched out in front of me. My head tilted back, and my eyes closed. I didn’t have it in me to say anything else. I’d laid it all out—my feelings, my truth—and the cat was out of the damn bag.
Boone spoke again, voice softer this time. “You know…” he started, pausing long enough that I didn’t bother to lift my head. “If anyone’s going to treat Ellie with the love and respect she deserves, it’s you.”
I smiled to myself, a slow tug at the corners of my mouth. That meant everything.
“Thanks, Boone.”
“If I had the capacity to be fully happy right now, I would be,” he added. “You two… you’re nothing but good together.”
That made the breath in my chest feel heavier and lighter all at once.
“She’s good for me.”
“But, no matter how much I love you both, if you hurt her… I swear to God?—”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, dismissing him with a smile. “I have no intentions of ever losing out on a woman like her.”
44
