Page 71 of Death, Interrupted

She gave a small shrug. “Freaked out.”

I nodded. “I get that. I’m sorry this is happening again.”

“It’s not your fault, Sly.”

“I know,” I said, brushing my thumb across her knuckles. “Doesn’t mean I like seeing you this way.” I lifted her hand and kissed her fingers.

“Did you see him?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah. He’s home. Looked fine. Too fine.”

Her eyes widened. “Did he—I mean…”

“I don’t know for sure if it was him who left the shirt,” I said. “But after everything, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

She looked down, twisting the edge of the blanket in her hands. “I know the shirt was at my door, but what if he comes after you? What if he remembers what you did?”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you.”

She stayed quiet for a moment, eyes fixed on the floor. “I hate that he still has this kind of hold on us.”

“Then we don’t let him,” I said. I turned to her again, waiting until she looked at me. “He doesn’t get to take up more space in your head, or mine. And if he tries anything again, he won’t get far.”

She nodded slowly, not looking too convinced, but at least she trusted me. She leaned into my shoulder. I felt her body soften against mine, and her breathing slowed.

“We’ll be okay,” I said quietly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Chapter 25

Sly

She said she was fine, but I knew she wasn’t.

Last night while we cooked, she kept glancing at the front door and out the window. She looked alert when what she really should’ve been feeling was safe in her own apartment. The thought of Joey had her on edge. It bothered her, and it bothered me.

This morning I decided to get her out of the apartment and give her something else to think about. I made breakfast first, and for a little while the food took some of the weight off her shoulders, but the look stayed in her eyes. Pain and worry were still there.

“It’s the weekend,” I said, waiting for her to meet my gaze.

“Hm?” she answered.

“It’s the weekend,” I repeated.

A small, amused smile touched her mouth. “It sure is.”

I leaned back in my chair. “I want to take you somewhere.”

She sat up straighter. Her eyes lit. “You do? Where?”

“Just a town over. There’s a campground with little cabins by a lake. I’ve been before. Thought we could get out for a couple of days. And now that you have your own helmet, we can take April.”

She watched me while I spoke. When I finished she nodded right away. “Yes!”

“Sound good?” I asked, grinning.

“Sounds perfect, actually.”

“Great. We leave in two hours.”