Page 120 of The Guy Next Door

“We look forward to them,” I say. “I don’t want to be rude, but can you leave me and my boyfriend alone now?”

Her gaze settles on the ground. “Yeah. That’s fair. I’ll probably have to follow up—”

“Bye, Detective Roth.”

She heads off, and I rest my head back on Leif’s shoulder.

The EMT suggests that, given how many times I was stunned by Isaac, it might be a good idea to head to the hospital for observation, but since all the vitals they took are fine, I refuse.

I’m just tired. Want to go to bed in my boyfriend’s arms. So Leif and I head back to his place. I know where I need to be right now.

When we get into his bedroom, we collapse on the bed together, and I throw my arms around him, pulling him close.

“I’m so fucking exhausted,” I whisper.

“Me too.”

“But there’s no fucking way I’m gonna be able to sleep after all that.”

“Then maybe we can stay up feeling like this for the rest of the night.”

I kiss the back of his neck. Once. Twice.

The third time, a tear streaks down my face.

It’s like I’ve been holding in all this emotion, especially with all the people we were around, and now it all comes flooding out. My body trembles, now not from shock, but from the weight of it all crashing down on me in an instant.

“He’s gone.”

“I’m so sorry, Zane. I wish there was something I could say to make it better.”

The tears roll down my cheek, onto his neck, and I surrender, sobbing against him, clinging to him desperately, as though if I held him tight enough, I could make sure nothing bad ever happened to my Leif.

He rolls toward me, and I release him enough so he can face me. I bury my face into his chest, a mess of tears and desperate groans that don’t even sound human. “Don’t ever leave me,” I say into his shirt. “Please don’t ever leave me.” I can’t even control the words that come out. I’m so grief-stricken, so desperate for some assurance.

“I’m right here. I’m here, Zane, and I love you. Let it all out. Don’t be afraid. Let me take anything that’s too much for you.”

What little I’ve been holding back, I release, and the sobbing intensifies as I surrender to it completely, knowing I’m safe in his arms.

This grief is just the beginning of the journey; I know that.

As my body works through a primal response, whimpers and screams, tears and trembling, he holds me tighter, assuring me that as long as I have Leif at my side, it’s a journey I can bear.

EPILOGUE

LEIF

One month later…

As I stirin bed, I feel a tight grip around my waist.

“Shh. No. It’s the weekend,” Zane says. “We can sleep in.”

I chuckle. “Is my short king tired?”

He nods against the back of my neck.

“If I stay in bed, how am I gonna make us waffles?”

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