Page 68 of Offside Angel

Nothing, he texts back. But I’ve been on high alert. Mira was on edge all day.

I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing that I’m not the only one who noticed. I was ready to write it off, but if Evan is noticing it, too…

“I don’t know how kids are able to fight bedtime.” Mira rubs her eyes. “Thirty minutes in that dark room with a sound machine going, and I’m a goner.”

I drop my phone face down on the counter. “Maybe we should get one for our room. We can fall asleep to ocean waves every night.”

I could use all the help I can get. I’m still waking up most nights in a panic to make sure Mira is still next to me.

“Or we skip the sound machine and move to a deserted island. We’ll open our windows and fall asleep to the real ocean lapping against the shore.” She wraps her arms around me and rests her cheek on my chest.

The team still hasn’t completely forgiven me for the rumor I didn’t even start that I’m looking to be traded. They’d never speak to me again if I up and abandoned them for some island in the middle of nowhere. No matter how nice it sounds.

“You thinking about making a getaway?”

I mean it to be a joke, but Mira’s breath catches. She goes stiff in my arms and all of my internal alarms go off.

I grab her shoulders and hold her away from me. “Are you?”

“N-no. No!” She shakes her head. “I’m not. It was just a joke.”

I want to tell her what the P.I. said about Dante and ask if she’s seen anything. I want to show her Evan’s text message for proof I’m not crazy. Other people can see something is wrong with her, too.

But she feels like a wild animal sometimes. If I get too close or push too hard, she’ll get spooked. I could lose her.

I grip her chin and tilt her face to mine. “Tell me your one truth.”

Her lips part and then close. She frowns, and fuck, I want to wipe it away.

“Come on, Mira.” I brush the pad of my thumb over her full bottom lip. “I can’t quiet all of the noise in your pretty head if you don’t let me in.”

“It’s pretty loud in there,” she whispers.

“Is that doubt I’m sensing?” I arch a brow. “If you don’t think I can handle it, I can’t wait to prove you wrong.”

“I know you can. But I don’t know i-if I can. Handle it, I mean.” She squeezes her eyes closed for a second. When they open again, they’re glassy. “What if I let you carry some of it, Zane? What happens when I get used to having you here and then… and then…”

“And then nothing.” I pull her close, cupping a hand around the back of her head. “We’re going to be there for each other and carry each other’s shit and nothing is going to change that.”

Her chest shudders on an inhale. “My one truth is that I’m terrified that something will. I’m terrified I’m going to lose you.”

“Is this still about the meeting with Hollis? You aren’t going to prison, Mira. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know a lot of people who would disagree with you,” she mutters.

“They’ll have to go through me if they want to arrest you.”

She jerks back. “No. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. We’re both going to get all tangled up in this and you aren’t going to be able to rip free. You’re going to go down with me, and I don’t want?—”

“Too fucking bad!” I don’t mean to, but I press her back against the wall. I loom over her until I’m staring down into her wide, green eyes. I know I’m probably scaring her, but the feeling is mutual. I capture her mouth with mine and kiss her until we’re panting. I drop my forehead to hers. “We’re tangled up already, Mira. It’s too late to avoid it.”

“It’s not. We can?—”

“I love you,” I bite out. “I love you. All of you. Your heart and your stubborn head and your baggage. I love who you were and who you are and who you will be.”

I wrap my arm around her waist and bend her against me. We’re close, but it’s not enough. I’ve never had this kind of urge to be inside someone before.

She whimpers. “Zane…”

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