Page 122 of Twilight Tactics
“You’re not responsible for other people’s choices, Collin Sullivan. Only your own.”
The sound of his full name seemed to settle something in him. His shoulders relaxed and he leaned back against the swing.
“Speaking of choices,” he said, his voice shifting to something softer. “I need to tell you something.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m in love with you.”
The words hung between them like morning mist, delicate and beautiful. Elena tried to breathe with suddenly constricted lungs. “Sully—”
“I know it’s complicated. I know we haven’t known each other long. Well, we have for a while, but not like this. Like the whole dating thing. But almost losing you made me realize I can’t wait for the perfect moment to say it.” His thumb traced circles on her palm. “I love your strength. Your compassion. The way you see past people’s mistakes to their hearts. The way you make me want to be better than I am.”
Elena fought the tears that threatened to fall. “You don’t need to be better. You risked everything to save me.” She cupped his face with her free hand. “I fell in love with you the moment you followed me into the mountains, determined to keep me safe. Even when I didn’t know I needed you to have my back.”
Sully leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was gentle at first, then deeper as weeks of tension and worry melted away. When they broke apart, Elena rested her forehead against his. “What happens now?” she whispered.
“Now we figure out what normal looks like.” Sully’s hand wrapped the back of her neck. “I’ll probably get a new partner. New cases. But I want to come home to you. Wherever that winds up being. But for now, here is good. How does that sound?”
She kissed him again, a lingering, sweet, full-of-love kiss with a hint of restrained passion. “Does that answer your question?”
He swallowed and nodded. Cleared his throat. “Good. Because I have plans.”
“What kind of plans?”
“Old-fashioned plans, like the kind that involve asking your father’s permission first. Think he’d be up to that?”
Elena laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep. “I think he can handle that.”
“He’s still doing all right?”
Elena let the laughter fade. “He is. Maya’s been amazing. I could have helped him alone, but she really went above and beyond to get him into an incredible therapy program. Not only that, I don’t think I told you that he saw the dentist a few days ago. He said he’s finally out of pain. He had a tooth that’s bothered him for years. Didn’t say a word for a while about it. I think he was afraid he would be perceived as causing trouble. I noticed he wasn’t chewing on that side and asked him. He grudgingly admitted it hurt.” Tears clogged her throat at the thought. “He’s not the same man I remember, Sully. He’s afraid of everything.”
He held her tighter. “He’ll come around. He needs to heal.”
“I know.” She swiped a stray tear. “He keeps marveling that he’s living with me, but I think he’s come to accept that I’m not going to throw him out if he leaves a dish in the sink.” She smiled. “I love that he’s learning how to live in the world again, and I get to help him do that.”
“And Iris?”
Ouch. “Twenty-five to life. The federal charges alone will keep her locked up for decades.” The thought saddened her. “Dad and I will visit when we can. She’s still my sister and his daughter, even after everything.”
“That’s very generous of you.”
“She was broken long before she broke other people. Doesn’t excuse what she did, but...” Elena shrugged. “Everyone deserves a chance at redemption.”
“Even ASAC Winters?”
“Even him. If he’s genuinely repentant. I pray he is.”
“I do too. Even though I’m still furious with him.”
“I don’t blame you.” She pulled him down for another of those sweet kisses she’d never get tired of.
The screen door banged, and Ollie bounded onto the porch with enough energy to power the sun.
“Gross! Are you two kissing again?” She threw herself into the empty chair across from them and shot them a grin full of life and mischief. “Maya owes me twenty bucks.”
“Youbeton us?” Elena asked.
