Page 231 of Micah
I catch it gently.
“I got it.”
She gives me a tired little smile.
“I know.”
I pull the belt across her and click it into place.
Then I tuck a loose strand of red hair behind her ear.
She watches every movement.
Those beautiful brown eyes never leave my face.
“Micah?”
“Yeah, Princess?”
“What you told me tonight? When you said you loved me?”
“Yeah?”
“I thought you should know, I love you, too. And I-I wanted to say thank you for coming to get me. For saving me. Again.”
The words are barely louder than a whisper.
Like she's still trying to convince herself I'm real.
Like there had ever been another ending to tonight.
I cup her cheek.
“There wasn't anywhere else I was ever gonna be.”
She leans into my hand without thinking.
That tiny unconscious movement damn near undoes me.
I brush my thumb across her cheekbone once.
Then I close the truck door.
By the time I climb behind the wheel, she's already sinking into the seat.
I start the engine.
The headlights wash across the front of the bar.
Broken glass sparkles.
A chair lies splintered near the doorway.
Sawyer stands with his arms folded while he says something to Alex.
Then they look toward me.
Toward Sloane.
