Page 10 of Shameless

“Jumps,” I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Is everything ok?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. The sheriff knew about my priors. He asked me a lot of questions.”

“You told him you were with Jules, right?”

I spoke to Jules while Lula was being questioned. They’re each other’s alibi. Not that Lula needs one, I have no doubt that she would never hurt another human being.

I’m dying to ask her what happened between her and my brother, but I know this isn’t the time.

“I don’t think the sheriff believed me.” Lula muses.

I’m dying to take her into my arms but I don’t want to do it here in front of some of the house staff and a few people that were out with the hunting party and are waiting here to be interviewed.

“Let’s go outside,” I guide her toward the balcony that spans most of the front of the house, offering a perfect view of the beach. “Why do you think the sheriff didn’t believe you? He can’t possibly think one conviction makes you a suspect.”

Lula’s fingers torment the leaves of the huge potted plant near the door we just used. “You’re wrong, Stef. This is exactly how the police think. And what’s worse is that when they find out that Trevor was a drug dealer and that he threatened me when I first got back to Star Cove, he’s going to think I have a motive.”

I hate the worried expression on her face.

“But you have an alibi. He can’t ignore that. But even admitting that you might have a motive to want Trevor dead, there are two other people who were killed at the same time. You barely knew Eddie and you had just met Maura. Let the police do their job, Jumps. They can’t ignore the evidence just because you have a record.”

There’s fear in her voice. “When I got arrested after Thanksgiving last year, I lied. All the drugs the cops found weren’t mine. Sure, I sold for my friend Mason, but I was lying. I let him run and took the fall for him because I knew I would have gotten away with a slap on the wrist while he was gonna face serious time in a federal prison. The police didn’t even question all the lies I told. They wanted to get to my supplier and they believed I bought that stuff on the dark web. My stepfather knew where I got the drugs from but he backed my lies because he was scared I would reveal why I started selling for Mason and why I was covering for him.”

I clench my fists to keep my temper in check. “Talking about your stepfather,” I growl. “And that waste of space of his son, I’m gonna?—”

Lula covers my fists with her hands. “No, Stef. Please promise me you’re going to stay away from them. Can’t you see how much they hate me? If you go near them, they’ll press charges. They’ll ruin you to hurt me.”

I resist her attempt to lace her fingers through mine, too angry to even think straight. “So what am I supposed to do? Let your stepfather try to frame you for murder? Let his scumbag son get away with what he tried to do to you?”

“If that is going to keep you safe, yes. We are no match for Howard and what Evan did is in the past. Hopefully once the police are done speaking to everyone, they’ll go back to New York and I’ll never have to see them again.”

I understand why she wants to keep me away from them, but I hate this. “I love you, Jumps. And that means that I need to protect you. I would burn down the whole world to keep you safe.”

Her hands leave mine and cup my face instead. “Then protect me. By being by my side though, Stefan. If you’re with me, Evan can’t touch me. And hopefully you’re right that the cops just want the truth. I love you too, Stef. So much.”

That does it.

My anger vanishes and I get lost in Lula’s intense green eyes. “Fuck,” I chuckle. “I can’t stay mad when you look at me like that.”

Her soft lips quirk up in a barely there smile. “Good.”

I take those lips in a hard, bruising kiss.

Lula’s mouth parts for me and her hands slide to the back of my head, where her fingers toy with the short hair at my nape.

God, I need her so much.

Our tongues tangle together and I deepen the kiss, pressing her soft body against mine. I know better than to try taking things further here on this balcony, where anyone could see us.

So I just kiss her, stealing her breath away and giving her mine. I would give Lula anything.

I’ve loved her since I can remember, there’s never been anyone else for me.

“Jumps,” I murmur against her lips. “What do you think about checking what’s going on with the interviews and see if we’re allowed back to our bungalows? Maybe we could be alone for a little while?”

Crew

I feel like crawling out of my own skin.

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