Page 14 of Someone to Watch Over Me

“Nah, he knows who he’s dealing with. I never fooled him for a second, but let me tell you, I’ve never once admitted that to him.”

“I love it. Such a great start to an epic couple.”

“It was pretty great, but don’t look at us now and think it was all sunshine and rainbows and wild sex. It was those things, but it was also a lot of compromise and risk-taking, especially for him. He was taking on a single mom with three young kids after losing his precious wife and daughters. He wasn’t sure he could handle caring that much about people again. He didn’t want to care that much.”

“What made him change his mind?”

“He was faced with the choice of taking a chance on us or living the rest of his life without us. We’re rather insidious. We get under your skin. By the time it came down to a decision, he was in love with all of us, so there really was no decision. At least that’s what he says. I know he struggled with it, though, and understandably so. Out of all of us, I look at what he lost and just can’t fathom how he’s managed to go on as gracefully and courageously as he has.”

“While giving so much to other widows through his incredible posts on Insta and his amazing friendship.”

“That, too. He’s the full package, if you know what I mean.”

“Again, TMI. That’s myfriendyou’re talking about.”

Her laughter has become the sound of joy to me, I realize as she loses her shit while trying not to crash Gage’s Rover. “I’m sorry to be enjoying this so much, but do not tell me you’re done with love and sex and all the rest of it. I refuse to believe that, unless, of course, you really want to be done with it. If so, I respect that choice, too.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

She pulls into the driveway at Tom’s. “Which is also fine.”

At the sight of his house and yard, I’m immediately transported back to the horror of last night and the many other times I had to call EMS for Jim. I’ve never experienced an adrenaline rush that can rival that which comes from realizing emergency measures are required to save someone’s life.

Iris’s warm hand on top of mine makes me realize how cold I am.

I force a smile for her. “Come in while I change real quick.”

She follows me to the door outside the garage, where I punch in the code. “Every time I do this, I think about how he turned over the code to his house, without hesitation, to someone he hadn’t seen since high school—and didn’t even know back then.”

“He knew he could trust you. Remember how you asked around about him? I’m sure he did the same.”

We step into the kitchen, which Tom has tricked out with gorgeous white countertops, a navy tile backsplash I would’ve chosen myself and high-end appliances. “He didn’t, though. I asked my high school friends if any of them had heard from him, and they all said no, which means he took me at my word. That’s such an enormous leap of faith, you know? To let someone you barely know into your home simply because she so badly needs a new place to be.”

“I think it’s marvelous that he stepped up for you that way.”

“And in so many ways since then. Last night, when I thought he might be dead… I honestly didn’t know what I would do.”

Iris put an arm around me. “I’m so sorry that happened to both of you.”

“I hate that I’m still making it about me when it’s about him.”

“It’s about you, too, and I’m sure even he would understand that, knowing what you’ve been through.”

“I hope so.” I look around at the cozy kitchen that, along with the rest of Tom’s comfortable home, has been such a refuge for me. “I’ve been so happy here.”

“And you will be again. I know it.”

I wipe my eyes with a tissue. “Thanks for propping me up. You’re the best.”

“It’s no problem at all.”

“I’ll be quick.”

“Take your time.”

4

Lexi

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