Page 114 of The Way Home

Taking them from the safe hadn’t felt right for the risk that he would lose them or Caleb would catch on to what he was doing, so Jamie had snapped a few photos and sent them to Pippa, asking her to stop by the local jewelry shop back home and speak with the jeweler. Jamie certainly wasn’t made of money—there was no way he could afford two entirely new rings—but at least they could get a quote for what he had in mind.

“Fuck,” he muttered as another car drifted a little too close to the bike lane. The knot in his stomach returned with a vengeance, and his palms grew slick on the handlebars. As he adjusted his line in the lane, the tension only tightened.

Panic crawled slowly up his throat, and his legs started to shake. On his left was the University of London. He could pull off if he needed to, but he was so close to Tottenham now. Just one more turn, and he’d be on the stretch home.

Ultimately, it was the car horn that did him in. The moment it blared, Jamie startled so hard he nearly toppled off the bike. He swerved toward the curb and pulled off to the side, hearing a few cyclists curse at him as they flew past.

The pounding in his head grew so loud that he didn’t know where he was. He leaned the bike against the wall of a university building and slumped onto a nearby bench.

Breathe, he heard Caleb’s deep, soothing voice in his head.In and out. Come on.Bending his knees, Jamie tugged off his glasses and leaned forward, resting his head between them. The knobs ofhis knees pressed into his temples as he forced himself to take slow, shaky breaths.

Why couldn’t he do this? Why couldn’t he just bike two bloody miles home from work? He was Jamie Collins—hebikedeverywhere. That was his thing.

Another car horn blared, and Jamie started shaking. Tires screeched somewhere nearby, and someone yelled, “You can’t park there!”

“Fuck off!” an American voice shouted back. His legs were shaking so hard that it rattled his teeth through the pressure of his knees. Jamie squeezed his hands into his thighs, trying to steady himself and hoping he didn’t vomit right here in this university parking lot—

“Jamie!” A car door slammed, and Jamie thought for a moment that he was hearing things. His ears felt heavy, like he was underwater, but he swore he knew that voice. Still hunched over, he cracked open one eye, but all he could see from where he was bent forward was the tip of his dress shoe.

“Angie, go find somewhere to park!” the same voice yelled. Was that—?

“I’m shit at driving!” Angie shouted back.

“Please!” Footsteps pounded across the pavement, and then strong hands landed on Jamie’s shoulders.

“Jamie, are you okay?” Jamie lifted his head.

“Caleb?” he rasped, unable to lift his head. “How do you always find me?”

“Are you hurt?” Caleb’s voice was horribly panicked as his hands moved over Jamie’s shoulders, then his arms.

“No,” Jamie said weakly. “No, I’m not hurt. Just…” His chest tightened again, the words refusing to come out.

A coward.

“Breathe, okay?” Caleb said softly, crouching in front of him. “I’m right here.”

Jamie was faintly aware of Caleb sliding onto the bench beside him. Soon, a large hand landed gently on Jamie’s back and beganrubbing circles. He could feel Caleb’s warmth right beside him, his chest as close as possible with the way Jamie was slumped over.

Caleb washere.And if Caleb was here, everything would be alright.

Jamie wasn’t sure how long they sat there, Caleb directing him to breathe in and out of his nose and telling concerned strangers that he was okay. His brain still felt a little fuzzy with panic, so he kept his head between his legs while Caleb stayed close beside him.

“Is that man okay?” an older woman asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Caleb answered quickly. “This is my partner. He just got a little dizzy on his bike. Thank you for asking.” His voice was calm and polite, the same professional tone he used when talking to referees or parents on the sidelines. But Jamie could feel the tension in the arm around him and the desperate press of Caleb’s thumb on his hip.

“It’s okay, sir,” Caleb told another concerned bystander. “This is my partner. Thanks for checking.”

Husband, Jamie corrected in his brain. Partner didn’t seem like enough to describe what they were to each other.

After a few more deep breaths, his chest finally felt like he could sit up. Slowly straightening, he slouched back into Caleb’s chest. Caleb rested his chin on top of his head, one arm banding around Jamie’s waist. The other took Jamie’s hand and pulled it into his lap, fingers tracing over his knuckles.

“You’re okay. You’re safe and okay.” Jamie couldn’t tell if the words were meant for him or for Caleb himself.

Turning his head so that his cheek was pressed into Caleb’s chest, he asked, “How did you know I was here?”

“Angie and I were coming to surprise you at work.” Caleb’s chest vibrated as he spoke. “But then I checked your location and saw you were here…”