Page 129 of The Embers That Remain

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I mean it.”

“I have never meant anything more.”

I snorted and gave him a look.

He lasted exactly three seconds before the grin broke through. The room filled with the kind of quiet laughter that only existed when two people knew each other too well.

I shuffled around the bed, and Lane immediately moved over—farther than necessary, making room like he was afraid I might change my mind.

The mattress dipped beneath my weight. I reached over and adjusted the edge of the blanket where it had slipped from his shoulder. The movement was automatic. Familiar. Like some part of me already knew how to take care of him.

For a second, neither of us moved. Then his arm slid carefully around my waist. Slowly. Deliberately. Giving me every chance to pull away. I didn’t. His body relaxed against mine, like he had been carrying tension in every muscle and finally remembered he could let it go. My head rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm beneath my ear.

His fingers traced slow circles along my back, absent-minded and familiar. After a moment his fingers went still against my back.

“Cali?”

“Yeah?”

He hesitated, like he was deciding whether to say something or let it stay buried.

“I took care of it.”

My eyebrows pulled together. “What?”

“Brett.” The name changed something in the room. “He doesn’t get to keep taking pieces of your life.”

My heartbeat faltered because some part of me had gotten used to waiting for the next thing.

“Lane . . .”

“I mean it.” His voice stayed quiet, but there was something steady underneath it. “He doesn’t get another chance to walk back into your life. He doesn’t get to take any more from you.”

He swallowed.

“The restraining order violations are documented. You’re not facing him alone anymore.”

His thumb brushed over my side as I remembered how to breathe.

“I don’t know how to thank you for giving me something I forgot I was allowed to have.”

“What?”

“Peace.”

For once, neither of us needed to explain anything.

“You know,” he murmured.

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

My smile pressed against his shirt.

“I love you more.”