Page 109 of In the Air Tonight

“Haha. We fell asleep.”

“So we did.”

He holds me tighter. “Best sleep I’ve had in ages.”

“Me, too.” I’m almost afraid to leave him and his warm bed to find out what’s been happening outside our little bubble.

“Whatever it is, it’s not your fault.”

“So you’re a mind reader now?”

“Nope. I just felt you get tense as you recalled the grand jury decision and its implications.”

“I wonder if he’s been arrested?”

“I’m sure he has by now.”

“I can’t stop thinking about his wife and kids and how they must be feeling.”

“That’s not your responsibility, Blaise.”

“I know.”

“None of this is your fault. Tell me you know that.”

“I do, but there’s no denying that there would’ve been no grand jury hearing without me.”

“And there would’ve been no need for you to report it if he hadn’t raped that girl.”

“Keep reminding me of that, will you?”

“Any time you need to hear it.”

“I’m apt to need to hear it a lot in the next few weeks.”

“I’m here for you.”

I turn on my back so I can see him. At some point during the night, he removed his shirt. I run my hand over his bare chest, which is muscular with just the right amount of soft hair. “I can’t tell you what it means to me to have your support. I’d feel really alone with this if it wasn’t for you.”

“I’ve felt really alone for a long time now, and the minute I met you, I didn’t feel alone anymore.”

I look up to meet his intense gaze. “Are you always so honest about how you feel?”

“I never used to be, but losing my parents the way I did was a big reminder that life is short, and there’s no time for bullshit.”

“I suppose that would change a guy.”

“It did, but the changes were needed. I wish I hadn’t had to learn the big lessons that way, of course. I’m a better person than I was before I lost them. It’s my goal now to make sure they’d always be proud of me.”

I squeeze his hand. “They’d be so proud of you.”

“I hope so.”

“I should get going so you can go to work.”

“I’d rather spend this day with you.”

“What about your deadlines?”

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