Page 134 of Always Love You More

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, and he watches me think it through. “You promise?” I ask. “That’s all. Just dealing?”

He dips his chin. “I promise.”

“And you’ll tell me if it becomes anything more? You can’t lie to me.”

“I trust you,” he says simply, easily. “I’ll tell you if anything changes. But baby?”

“Yeah?” I murmur, trying to process his words.

“You have to trust me, too.”

“I do,” I answer instantly.

He shakes his head. “With this. You have to trust me with this.”

“I—”

“Can you do that?”

“No cars?”

“No cars,” he confirms. “I promise. Never that.”

“Okay.” I let go of a breath. “Okay, yeah, I trust you.”

He brushes his thumb against my hip, leaning in and bringing his lips to mine, as if sealing the promise.

Our vow to each other.

I deepen the kiss, silently telling him that I’m all in, that I trust him.

He pulls back, drawing his gaze up my body until he finds my eyes. “You really love me,” he says, like he’s trying to make himself believe the words.

I lean into him, pressing my lips against his in response. “More than anyone.”

Chapter 31

Jameson

Heavyrainbouncesoffmy windshield as I idle in front of the school, waiting for Sam and Billy.

It’s been a few weeks since I dropped out, and if I’m not working, I always drive Sam in the morning and pick her up in the afternoon. Normally, Billy takes his motorcycle, but I offered to drop him off at the garage so he could avoid the rain.

Things have been a bit easier now that I don’t have to worry about school. But, in a way, I’ve just traded one issue for another.

I’m still working all the construction jobs I can get, but not nearly enough have been coming my way. I’ve also kept up with my training, taking fights whenever Ryan calls. But the bills have been stacking up. It’s not enough. Not when my mother is a shell of herself and leaves it all to me.

So, I’ve filled in the gaps the only way I know how—working with Marcus again.

He’s my connection to the distributor, but he keeps trying to reel me into other jobs.

I always say no.

Between that, the money I make fighting, and any construction jobs I can pull, we’re getting by.

I’ve gotten my mother to leave her room a bit more, and she seems to be starting to slowly come back to herself. Although, I don’t think she knows exactly who she is now that she doesn’t have my old man telling her who to be.

Things with Sam have been better, too. After that night in my car, any remaining distance between us is gone. I ended up climbing in through her bedroom window and didn’t leave until morning. I didn’t know you could feel for another person the things I feel for her. Love someone the way I love her. And the fact that she loves me back … despite everything, it’s the only thing saving me right now. The only thing getting me through.