Page 53 of The Fix

Abstract mountains rest just above the waistband of his shorts, little peaks capped in snow across his right hip that remind me of the exact view I’d find if I looked out the windows over my shoulder.

The tears clinging to my lashes trail down my face.

“Every one of them are for him, aren’t they?” I trace over his clammy skin as an ache like nothing else blooms behind my breast.

“Yeah, Mama. They are.” His graveled voice startles me as he breathes out the words, drawing my attention to his red-rimmed eyes. He’s staring at me with so much pain in those dark irises that the ache in my chest increases.

I don’t bother stopping the choked sob that bubbles up, nor do I pull away from his grasp when it lands on my wandering fingers.

“C’mere.” I don’t fight him when he tugs me close enough that my head lands on his shoulder and my arm drapes over his ribs.

I’m stiff at first, the position awkward enough, considering the fact that my mind is screaming at me to back away from this whole situation, but then his arm wraps around my shoulders.

Tobias Jeffers holds me as if to console me, and I just let him.

He tightens his arm around me and pulls me as close as possible.

I let him rest his head on mine, his other hand against my shoulder, encircling me in his orange and tobacco scent.

“How?” His voice is grated and worn as it travels over my hair.

My brow furrows. “How what?”

His chest lifts with a deep inhale. “How do you smell like the ocean?”

“Oh.” My cheeks heat, the skin tight with dried tears. “My shampoo is sea salt and kelp scented.”

A deep chuckle rumbles his chest. “They literally bottled the ocean for you.”

A faint smile tugs at my lips. “It’s mass produced. Anyone can have the ocean in a bottle.”

“I bet it doesn’t smell like this, though.” Toby takes another rough inhale, his nose pressed unashamedly to the strands near his face.

“Like what?”

Grunting, he falls silent.

It’s not an uncomfortable silence, either.

In fact, it’s warm and welcome and the most at peace I’ve felt in years, despite everything.

I’m so screwed.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Toby

“Wanting you is the only thing that makes fucking sense.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Anna

“What?”

Toby grunts and lifts, his arms sliding beneath my bent knees and around my shoulders. “Nothing, just go back to sleep.”

I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me. He could carry me out into the snow and I wouldn’t give a damn about it simply because he’s lifted me when no one else I’ve known since I was an adult has.

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