Page 173 of Safe With You
“I don’t know. You just seem really careful about it.”
That got her attention.
Her eyes met mine for a second before dropping back to the book in her hands.
She shrugged. “Old habit.”
There was something different in her voice now, subtle enough that it didn’t make the conversation feel heavy but still noticeable.
“What kind of habit?”
She ran her thumb along the edge of the cover.
“The kind you pick up when somebody keeps score.”
I straightened slightly.
“Score?”
She didn’t answer right away.
Then she set the book down.
“Lucas.”
I knew the name. I knew he was the man before me, if there even was a before me and an after me yet.
Beyond that, Luna hadn’t told me much.
“He remembered everything he ever did for me,” she said.
There was no anger in her voice.
Somehow, that made me listen harder.
“If he picked something up because I needed it or changed his plans for me or helped me with something, eventually I’d hear about it again.”
“In an argument.”
Her mouth pulled to one side.
“Usually.”
I looked at her.
“Like what?”
She hesitated.
“Just...” She exhaled. “After everything I do for you. I did this because you wanted it. I changed my plans because you needed me. Stuff like that.”
The words came out almost too casually, like maybe she’d said them to herself enough times that they didn’t sound strange anymore.
“So you stopped asking.”
“It was easier.”
My jaw tightened before I could stop it.
