Page 49 of Safe With Me

“It’s time when you think it’s time. Don’t rush because you’re trying to catch up to some kind of timeline. You have nothing to prove. Do what you’re comfortable with.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be comfortable getting into my car and going home at night by myself, but it’s something I need to make myself do. I won’t be out late, not that the bar is open late anyway. I think Claudia said that on late nights she closes at eleven.” I snickered, remembering heading home from the bar on my old block at two in the morning.

“The bar stays open late on New Year’s. Some of us are stationed outside that night, but other than that, the town has an earlier bedtime than you’re probably used to in Philly.”

“Kelly Lakes gets unruly on New Year’s?”

“You’d be surprised.” He glanced back at the table. “You actually didn’t do such a bad job. You only missed one step, which screwed up the rest of it. It was a good effort.”

“Thanks. I tried.”

“I like that you’re trying,” he whispered, his gaze traveling to my mouth for a second before he cleared his throat. “If you’re nervous tonight when you leave, text me. I can see what time I get off and come meet you.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You can ask me to do a lot of things. Stop thinking that you’re all by yourself. I’m here for whatever you need.” He smiled and squeezed my shoulder, sending a jolt down my arm.

“Thank you,” I said, clearing my throat when I noted my froggy whisper. “Sorry for disrupting your morning.”

“You didn’t disrupt anything. Like I said, I was up early and just kind of lingering around. Putting stuff together clears my head.”

“I guess you’re welcome, then.”

His throaty chuckle ran right through me, as usual.

“Have a good time tonight. And, listen,” he said, turning to me before he stepped out the door. “I’m proud of you.”

“Proud of me for what? Making a mess in my apartment?”

“No. I’m proud of you for getting yourself out there again. I know it’s scary, but we’ve all got your back. I promise.”

Those crystal-blue eyes could’ve made me believe anything.

That I’d be safe.

That I could belong here.

That I was as beautiful as he made me feel when he looked at me like that.

“Well, thanks. I appreciate that. Have a good day at work. Stay safe.”

“Thank you,” he said, holding my gaze as I held the door open for him to leave.

I pressed my hand to my chest, the thump of my heart tapping against my palm. I wasn’t sure if it was the nerves over a night out or the hots I had for my neighbor. Both had me a little on edge.

Despite the trepidation I’d been working so hard to shake, my plans for tonight felt like a baby step back toward a normal life.

Something I hadn’t known I’d wanted so badly until it had been taken away.

Claudia likedto joke that she was a Kelly Lakes import, but she knew everyone, everywhere. When I pulled into the parking lot of Salma’s, she was outside laughing with a cluster of people. She greeted everyone waiting in line to be seated and had a long conversation with our waitress after we got a table.

“You could run for mayor here,” I told her as I scanned the menu.

“I know the mayor. She’s nice, but I don’t want her job. I’m good with mine.” She patted my hand and went back to perusing the laminated specials for the night.

“Of course you know her.” I shook my head. “No one would guess that you weren’t born here.”

“I’d also been coming back and forth for a while before I moved here, to visit Peyton. I got a kick out of it because it was so different from Brooklyn. Almost like a vacation.”

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