Page 23 of It's Not Home Without You

“No, go.” She turned to look at the squad car. It was almost upon us.

“I’m not leaving you, baby.”

“Please, Max, just go.” She pushed me toward the bushes.

I didn’t go. Instead, I cupped her face and saw the challenge in her eyes. It would piss her off if I stayed. So I kissed her. “I love you, Freya Pratt, even if you drive me fucking crazy.”

She smiled at me brightly, even though she was about to take the fall for all of us.

“I love you too. Now go.” She got on her tiptoes, kissed me, then ran back toward the tower.

When I made it to the bushes, Russell and Jake were crouching there, their eyes on Freya.

“I can’t do this. I’m going back with her,” I said ready to turn around, but Russell stopped me. It pissed me off, because if he really believed she was like his sister, shouldn’t he protect her?

“Jake called Clark, who’s at the station being a kiss-ass, and the police code they used was mine and Freya’s.”

That was even worse. I didn’t know why Russell was so calm.

“Your point?” I asked.

“The detective has a soft spot for Freya.”

“He what?” My tone went icy with jealousy at the fact that a cop might have a thing for Freya. I couldn’t blame him; she was beautiful, but still, she was mine.

Russell rolled his eyes. “Not like that, dumbass. He wants to get her on the right path.”

I stood hidden in the trees and watched as my girl waved at the cop car like she was trying to hitch a ride. I wanted to kiss her and spank her at the same time. No one was around for miles, and the night was clear, so it was easy to hear what Freya and the detective were talking about.

“Hey, Timmy, it’s been a while.” I wasn’t the only one who grinned at my girl’s blasé tone.

The detective shook his head, his shoulders sagging.

“Where’s your partner in crime, Freya?”

“I don’t know. I came on my nightly jog,” she answered. Judging by the silence, I was sure detective Tim didn’t believe her.

“You’re telling me you had nothing to do with the graffiti on the water tower?”

Freya walked next to the detective, since he had a clear view of our handiwork, and gaped at the painting. “Oh wow. I hadn’t noticed. I’m short. I miss a lot of things.”

“Freya.” There was a warning in the detective’s voice.

“You think I did this?” She pointed to the water tower, her tone incredulous. “I don’t graduate for two more years. Besides, I’m not very artistic. I like to run and hang out with my boyfriend, and I’m afraid of heights; they make me queasy. Haven’t you noticed I haven’t gotten in much trouble lately?”

Damn, my girl was good.

“Get in the car, Freya. And if you happened toknowwho damaged the town’s property, tell them I won’t have the tapes checked if they restore the damage by Friday.”

“Fuck,” Russell muttered. The detective totally knew, but Russell was right, he had a soft spot for my girl. We waited for a while until the coast was clear before we left.

As soon as Rus dropped me at my house, I grabbed my car and drove straight to Freya’s. When I pulled up to her home, she was waiting outside for me, a smile on her face when she saw me pull up.

“I’d knew you’d come.” She ran into my arms. Now that the rush was gone, I looked into her beautiful, brown eyes—eyes I could get lost in, and I wouldn’t care if no one ever found me.

“I love you, baby,” I said as soon as I had her in my arms. Freya craned her head to look up at me, her arms wrapped around my neck. When I noticed that her eyes were moist, I wanted to curse myself for making her cry. But then she smiled at me, and she didn’t have to tell me she loved me back because she told me with the way her eyes sparkled and the way she smiled at me like I was the only one in the whole world. Still, when she said the words, I knew she was the one for me. This was the girl I wanted to marry.

The girl I would marry.

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