Page 106 of Road to Absolution

My behavior had this poor woman walking on eggshells. “But…” For some reason, I felt there was the proper space between us to finally speak of the elephants in the room. “We both know something is wrong with me.”

Realizing I was willing to talk, for a change, her mouth parted. She set her shoulders back and admitted, “It changes nothing for me. My heart is yours.”

It was scary, but her bravery gave me even more reason to try to keep talking. “Thank you for trying to have my back.”

A little surprised at my words, she gently smiled. “Of course.”

I swallowed. “The nightmare the other night.” My throat closed.

Her chin lifted. “Was scary.”

I dared to take a step toward. “Terrifying.”

“But I’m willing to go through them every night, for the rest of my life, if you need me to.”

I held up the bag again. “Can this help?”

As if I was witnessing a weight lifting from her chest, it lifted, but she kept her emotions under control. “She says it helps her and—” Her eyes showed doubt.

I took a step back.

“Giver,” she quickly said. “It helps him with night terrors.”

I took a step forward.

“Justice said there is proven data that high-quality marijuana can help repair certain kinds of brain damage, like from impact.” She waved fingers to me.

I took another step. “How do you feel about me trying it?”

Her fingers now fidgeted.

I stopped.

Her eyes drifting shut, she rushed out, “As long as it doesn’t become an all-day-long thing,” her eyes opened, “I think it is a gift we shouldn’t refuse.”

I motioned between us. “I like this. This straightforward Lilah.”

She sulked. “Fucking Tucker, right again.” Swoosh, swoosh went ginger ale.

Needing to feel this woman who thrilled me, I stalked forward. “Enough about me. What does Lilah need?”

With puffy cheeks, she casually looked at me, then jolted with wide orbs. She gulped. “Umm, I can’t do that.”

Smirking, I rested my fist on the mattress. “Then what else can I give you?”

“The sun.”

She squealed as I scooped her up. “Anything you want.”

There were still haunted roads to travel, but those simple moments of honesty were ones that would help save us in the end.