Page 11 of The Forever Game

“You don’t have to, but putting a ring on it is fun, Lani. You can’t tell me that a small part of you doesn’t want some whopping great diamond on your hand.”

I wrinkle my nose, and Caroline laughs again.

“Let Asher propose to you already.”

“Why shouldheget to propose?”

“Fine!” She throws her hand up with an exasperated smile. “You propose to him, then! Just put a freaking ring on it already!”

I grin at her expression, the idea sparking something playful and warm inside of me.

Icouldpropose to him.

You know, that could be kind of fun. And as for the wedding thing… well, maybe I can handle it.

Asher is my soulmate. I have no doubts about that.

And the expression on his face if I popped the question…

I bite my lip, giddy butterflies swarming me as I let that scenario play out in my imagination.

“Oh, that’s good,” I whisper to myself. “That is really good.”

CHAPTER5

LIAM

I spin my wedding ring around, staring at the gold band and trying to harden myself against the wails coming from the house to my right. I’m standing on the front lawn of this small residence, there as backup for the social worker who is removing two kids from a dangerous situation.

This sucks.

Glancing at my partner, we share a cringing frown as the mother starts screaming.

“Get your hands off my babies! Leave them the fuck alone! Don’t you touch them! Don’t you touch them!”

I adjust my police belt, gripping the sides while the social worker calmly explains, “Ma’am, we’ve been over this. I need to take them for a while. You’ll be able to visit. They’ll be safe and well cared for.”

“My babies!” She’s wailing as Denise walks out the front door with a baby in her arms and two kids with big eyes and bony arms trailing after her. Their threadbare coats can’t hide how skinny they are. The little boy looks terrified, and I feel sick as I take in the bruises around his neck. His big sister doesn’t look much better, with purple-and-blue marks on her cheek and chin. She holds his hand and tugs him along.

“Come on.” She pulls him forward. “Don’t look.”

“No! Stop!” The mother rushes out after them, and I’m forced to step forward, catching the bat she’s wildly swinging.

The girl ducks, shielding her brother, while Denise spins with a gasp, ushering the children forward. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Kids, follow me.”

The boy starts crying, and I want to pull him into a hug and promise him the world won’t hurt him again.

But I can’t do that.

Since becoming a police officer, I’ve come to realize the world—even a small town like Nolan—can be a very dark and dangerous place.

“No! Stop them!” The woman looks at me, but I doubt she can see my face properly. Her pupils are dilated, her breaths short and punchy. She’s high. And from the report I read on the way over here, I know it’s meth running through her system.

It breaks my heart as I lower her to the ground, rolling her onto her stomach so I can cuff her. She screams into the icy pavement, shouting for her children while I keep a gentle hand on her shoulder so she can’t rear up and attack me.

My partner stands watch while I keep her still, making sure the kids get into the vehicle safely.

I try to keep my touch light and calm, even when she gets a surge of energy and starts battling me. She doesn’t know what she’s doing right now, and when she crashes and finds her kids gone… she’ll be wrecked.

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