Page 105 of Stay with Me

“What’s wrong, hon?” Reap says.

“I’m questioning everything. My relationship, my common sense. Like, did I just allow some dick to put me in a gunfight?”

Reap bursts into laughter. I’ve yet to find the humor in it all. Trust me, I’m trying.

“You don’t look like a silly woman to me. So I don’t think dick was your motivation. Now, that shit’s called love.” She pauses to look outside to where Grim has been watching out. “That shit will have you putting to ground anything that moves to protect what’s yours.”

I look into my cup. Her words hit home. I love this baby already, I’ll do everything I have to, to keep it safe. If that means protecting it with my life I would.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, shoot.”

I bite my lip and look up at her. She’s such a little woman, but the fierceness within her oozes off her. It also draws you in.

“How’d you end up protecting people and in the middle of a shootout. I mean, you didn’t even flinch.”

She gives another laugh. “I don’t know anything else. I didn’t go to fancy schools, and I didn’t have rich parents who were invested in my future. I had our old Prez Cage for a bit, but then it was me and that guy.” She thumbs toward Grim.

“So you’ve been around the biker life for a long time?”

“Born and raised around it.”

I nod. That explains a lot, I guess. “My parents sent me to piano and ballet lessons. I didn’t get into my first fight until high school. I think that was because everyone was afraid of my sister.

“Saga is a fighter. Me, not so much. Sometimes I feel like my family kept me from the real world, and when I got an official introduction, it blew up in my face,” I say as I think my life over.

I get lost in thought for a while. I’m aware of Reap observing me, but I’m too far gone to give her my attention. After a while, she pulls it as she speaks up.

“I don’t know you, but I can see you have a lot going on in your head. You should know that your man is out there doing everything he can to make this right and still be an honorable man.

“That’s what the Prezes like about him. If King and Ice thought he was a disloyal SOB, he’d be out there on his own. We ain’t shit to him and he has shown us loyalty. You, you’re the woman he loves. He’ll make this right, and you’ll be back to living your happy life.

“And Reminisce,” she says a bit gentler.

“Yeah.”

“He loves you for who you are. I don’t think he wants you to be like me or anyone else.”

I rub at my chest. She’s right, she doesn’t know me. I know my feelings for Knight, but he’s never said he loves me. Therefore, her words fall flat. At least, I want them too.

If they do, I can hold onto my anger and hurt. I can hide away in my fear and turn my back to all of this as soon as it’s safe to. I was foolish to think I could step in and save the day for my man without these repercussions.

I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m the biggest coward I know. I can’t even tell him I love him. Still, he’s never said it to me.

Because you’re always pushing him away.

The front door bursts open, and I jump, nearly falling off the couch onto the floor. Knight rushes in toward me. I’m in his arms before I can right myself.

“Are you okay?” he asks cupping my face.

“I’m fine,” I murmur.

He looks deep into my eyes, but I turn away. I can’t get lost in his gaze. I need some time outside of this situation to figure things out.

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I knew I shouldn’t have,” he says and kisses my forehead.

“She was right. If you would have started this the way we planned, we would have hit a roadblock with Vault. We appreciate your help,” Grim says.

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