Page 101 of Safe With Me

“Yes, of course I do. When I saw his sister sobbing and scared, my first instinct was to run and stop hurting them all.”

“But you’re not hurting them all. I’ve known you for a long time. I’ve never seen you glow over anyone before. Even when you’d tell me about some random piece of furniture he’d put together for you or a walk you took around the block, I knew you were in love before you did.”

I had to laugh. “You didn’t say anything.”

“In that case, you coming to it on your own was the better way.” She chuckled. “Take away the last few days. Are you happy where you are? With Mike?”

“Yes. Really, really happy.” I sniffled, surprised I still had tears in me since I’d sobbed so hard after Officer Torres dropped me off, I was woozy from dehydration.

“Then what the hell are you doing over there? Go get him back. Take the pepper spray just in case, but go.”

I laughed and pressed my palm against my forehead. “Thank you. I really hope my life gets boring soon.”

“Not too boring. If everything weren’t such shit for you right now, I’d be teasing you about your little evening delight on the beach.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I love that Mike is bringing out this side of you.”

“I’d love it a lot more if half the police department didn’t know about this side of me too.”

“This is all part of the jealousy from whoever is doing this. Someone wants your life because it’s too good. Maybe if you look at it that way…”

“I can see how stupid I was not to fight for it in the first place?”

Ally tapped her chin. “Something like that. Now, stop talking to me and get over there.”

I stared at the black screen for a few minutes before I came up to the mirror behind my couch, flinching at my reflection.

The dark circles around my eyes and deep crease in my forehead had aged me since this morning. My gaze traveled from my exhausted face to my living room behind me and the new blue curtains I’d bought and managed to figure out how to hang up.

I really did love it here.

And I loved the cop around the corner.

I’d called Ally in hysterics, hoping that she’d direct me on what the hell to do, and she’d given me the best clarity I could have asked for.

Someone wanted my life, our life. Either for themselves or to destroy it.

And I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of letting them do it.

After I found the pepper spray in my drawer and stuffed it inside my purse, I rushed out of my apartment before I lost my nerve.

I locked all three locks and made my way across the street, wishing we had more streetlights as I jogged toward Mike’s apartment.

I spotted the glow of a light from his window, but most of the second floor looked black.

I pressed his doorbell, jumping at the loud chime wafting onto the quiet street.

Something like this would have made me freeze up a few weeks ago, and it should have now that the threat was real instead of a phantom remnant of trauma.

But I’d found it in me to stay upright and not run, especially since, right now, there was nowhere to run to.

I let out a relieved breath at the shuffle of footsteps on the other side of the door. I met Mike’s blue gaze, those damn eyes glowing under the dim porch light.

He leaned against the door, saying nothing as he watched me. I guessed he’d said all he needed to, and the rest was up to me.

“I love you. And I want to stay.” I eased closer, Mike’s eyes blazing into mine as he stayed silent. “If you’ll still have me.”

His shoulders drooped, his chest deflating as he chuckled to himself and softly pulled me by the arm inside, shutting and locking the door behind us.

“If I’ll still have you?” His shoulders jerked with a chuckle as he cupped my cheek. “Get over here.”

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