Page 97 of From You to Me

“Did they find out who did this?”

I shook my head. “No. It was so weird. The cops told me it was a robbery, although nothing was taken. I was there one second, and the next, two men were dragging me down an alley for no apparent reason. I had to stay in the hospital for two months, but thankfully, I met Gabe there.”

“So they didn’t catch those fuckers? What did they look like?” he steeled out, his eyes carrying a lace of anger while his grip on my leg increased.

“I have no clue. They grabbed me from behind, and it was very dark, so I couldn’t see a thing. And the cops were the worst. I’d told them repeatedly that they didn’t rob anything, but they kept insinuating that if they didn’t rob anything, I must’ve been buying drugs from them, so that made me shut up and realize they weren’t going to be of much help.”

“Fucking assholes. Did you know why those guys grabbed you?”

“No, it was very strange. All they said was ‘shut up’ and as soon as they pushed me down, they spoke among themselves that it was enough and got the hell out of there.” Deep down I always had the feeling that White had something to do with it. Somehow, she found out I was there and sent someone to stop me from seeing Jay.

“What were you doing there? In the alley?” A curious look crept over his face.

A strained chuckle spurt out of my mouth. “Would you believe me if I said that I was waiting for you?”

His hand froze on my leg, and his stunned eyes met mine. “What?”

I sighed internally—so Jay didn’t really get that call after all. He never knew I was there in the first place. “You were performing at the Bluebird Club that day. They wouldn’t let me in, so I waited outside.”

He didn’t say a thing as he stared at me. “I don’t know what to say,” he whispered.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I whispered back.

He nodded, and the tension between his brows never disappeared after that. It was at times like this that I wanted to get inside his head and know what was going on in there. Was he mad? Did he feel anything? Did any glimmer of him believe that I came back? Did something in him tell him that this could’ve been White’s doing?

I guess I’d never know.

“How about a movie?” he asked just as we finished our writing session.

“Yeah.” I yawned as I grabbed a box of fries and settled on the couch, stretching my feet.

“Are you tired?” He eased in beside me, draping a warm blanket over us.

“Yeah,” I mumbled, distracted by the radiant heat seeping into my body. And as if that was not helping, he leaned and slid his arms behind me.

Fuck.

“So you like movies these days?” He pressed play to the latest superhero movie, and the credits rolled in with dramatic music.

“I don’t really mind. I still like watching TV shows, but I stopped because I used to watch them with Auntie M all the time. And it reminded me of her.” My voice took a somber note.

His large hand grasped mine, linking our fingers as he squeezed.

And soon, my heavy eyelids drooped close as I drifted off.

I woke up with beads of sweat gliding down my back and something hard poking my ass. I gasped for breath as I tried to wiggle out of the strong arms that were caging me between the couch and his heated body.

Did we fall asleep last night?

I tilted my head as I peered at him. He was breathing softly into my neck with a peaceful look on his face as his long eyelashes rested on his cheeks.

I couldn’t help but sweep away the raven locks falling over his eyes.

I gasped as he blinked his eyes open just as my fingers brushed the stray strand away.

“Hi,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep. I couldn’t take my eyes off his bright blues, so close in the golden daylight spilling in from the window. I could see every single detail, the azure specks lining the outside and the molten cobalt blazing in the center.

A happy grin swept over his face. “Hey.” He surprised me by giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

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