Page 92 of Finish Line

He rocks me as I cry. “In Hawaii, Nick was right. Things are different now. You have us back, and we aren’t leaving ever again.”

Dom reaches down and grabs my hand with Luke’s ring on it. “Luke saw to that. He may have been the one to ask you, but we want the same. You’re ours, Shelby. You’ll never lose us again. Just, please don’t make us lose you.”

He exhales. “I won’t ask you to promise me not to go after him. That was wrong of me, because God knows I would if I saw the opportunity. I will ask, though, that you try not to do it alone.”

I lift my head from his chest. Sincerity shines from his eyes. Dom places his palms on my cheeks and uses his thumbs to wipe my tears.

“Okay,” I say. “I’ll do everything I can to avoid going after him alone.”

Dom nods before standing, pulling me to my feet.

We stay wrapped in each other’s arms for a bit longer before he pulls back. “Go climb into Luke’s car, and get home safe, Firefly.”

I squeeze him again before stepping back out of his arms. “I will. Thanks for the use of the plane and house, even if you didn’t agree to it at the time.”

Dom chuckles, running his thumb down my cheek and along my bottom lip. “Anything for you. I love you, Firefly.”

“And I love you, Grizzly.” I rise on my tip toes and give him one last kiss before we both turn and walk toward our cars.

After the others leave, I climb into Luke’s Mustang, and he drives me home.

Luke pulls into Peter’s driveway right behind Nick.

He puts the car in park, and we wait. I stare out the windshield at the house before us, discomfort washing over me.

This place isn’t home. It never was.

“Are you glad to be back?” Luke asks as if he can sense my thoughts’ direction.

“I’d be lying if I said yes. I liked us living in a house together,” I say.

“We did, too,” Luke agrees.

“This place was the first place where I felt wanted. In Hawaii, I figured out the building doesn’t matter. It’s who you’re with. You guys are home for me.”

Luke leans over and kisses me.

Settling back in my seat, I glance back at the house. Nick and Cin have already gone inside. I’m not sure what to expect when I walk in.

Will my mother be happy I’m back? Or will she be pissed I took off?

“Let’s get this done.” I slide out of the car, grab some of my items, and head in. Luke enters behind me, his hand on my lower back.

“Well, look who decided to finally come home,” my mom says from the kitchen.

“Hey, Mom.” I check the time. “What are you doing up this late?”

Nick and Cin stand off to the side of the kitchen, supporting me.

“Hey, Mom? That’s all you have to say?” she barks, and her face pinches. “I haven’t talked to you in over two weeks.”

“The guys came out this last week, so I was busy.” As I let my bag drop from my shoulder, Luke takes it, kissing my cheek.

My mom huffs. “And I didn’t rate a call the week before?”

“Mom, I went through something traumatic and needed some time to figure it out.” I stand my ground, frustrated at her lack of understanding. “I’ve told you this before, and every time I called you.”

She might have been pissed at me for leaving, but I didn’t think she’d be this upset. It’s like she’s not even trying to understand or listen to me.

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