Page 166 of Ly to Me

Her lashes batted, releasing more tears onto my awaiting hands. I peered into those same brown eyes that stole me so long ago. The ones that saw so much more in a life that gave her so little.

“Baby, I’m here. I’m not leavin’ you.”

I waited for movement. Something. Anything.

My palms slid down, resting over her neck, feeling the rapid pulse.

“Please, say somethin’, Ly.”

Shock, that’s what this was.

“I’ve got you.”

I lifted her in my arms and carried her to our bathroom, and just like the night I realized my plan to make her leave wasn’t possible with how much I still cared for her, I undressed her, then myself, then held Ly close to my chest as I stepped under the water.

She started blinking a few more times, more consistently than before. I wasn’t a doctor, but I believed that was better. Maybe it was enough to tell her again. “I’m here, Ly. I’m not leaving. I love you. I love you.”

More blinks, and a slight shuffle in the cradle of my arms, and I could finally breathe a little easier.

“Car?”

My heart soared.

“Yeah, sweetheart.” I chuckled, pushing my forehead to hers. “It’s me.”

“W-where were you? I…I thought”—she worried down on her lip—“I thought you were hurt or that Jamie—or, maybe—”

“I’m. Right. Here.” I squeezed her body to mine as I held her in my arms, my fingers digging into her thigh and ribs. “I’m never gonna leave you. How could you think that? Can’t you tell how lost I’d be without you?”

A soft smile tilted her swollen lips until they frowned. “You didn’t leave a note.”

“Fuck.” My mind raced. Yes, I’d silenced her phone, hoping she’d sleep in and wouldn’t hear it ring if hospice called again. Or the cops. I wanted to bring her nothing but peace, and yet, I’d only made it worse.

“You got me my car back early.”

I nodded. “You needed it.” And if I went to jail, I might not have been able to reach Hayes before the week was up. She’d need more gas to get around without me, though I tried my best to avoid that from happening.

Her hand cupped my cheek. “I searched the whole town for you.”

“You did?”

“Course.” Her thumb stroked over my chin. “May have threatened Hayes and Leo in the process.”

“And Grant,” I added, smiling at her.

Hers outshone mine, full of sunshine. “Yeah.” A beat of silence passed as water droplets fell over my shoulders. She trailed after the beads with her eyes, landing on the heart engraved on my chest. “You were comin’ back?” Her voice was so low, it could hardly be considered a whisper.

“I’d never leave you. They’d have to pry me from your body, limb by fucking limb, before that could happen.”

“Who’s ‘they?’”

“Anyone or anything that could ever come between us. I won’t let it happen again, Ly. I swear to you, I’m not goin’ anywhere. I’ll leave a note every time from now on.”

“You take me with you.”

I tipped my head down, kissing the tip of her thumb. “I’ll take you with me.”

“Promise?”