Page 59 of From Our First

“Congratulations, baby.”

“I’m going to bruise, and you’re going to have to suck up for the fact that you injured me.”

I winced. “Sorry. But at least I’m going to have horrible welts from the paintballs.”

“That is true. It will help me sleep at night.”

The others laughed, and I pinched her ass. She squealed, and I pulled her away, the others laughing and planning our next outing.

As we cleaned up, piling everything into my truck, Myra grinned at me. “That was a blast.”

“Really?” I asked and rubbed my temple.

“Are you okay?” she said.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Didn’t hit my head or anything, but I think it was a little too much adrenaline for me. Do you mind driving home?”

She took the keys from me and kissed me softly.

“What was that for?” I asked.

“Because you aren’t a big, tough guy who needs to drive the little lady around. As soon as your head started to hurt, you realized that maybe you might be getting a migraine, so you handed over your keys without a second thought. You asked for help.”

“I had to learn the hard way that if I don’t, I end up putting people I love in danger.”

She frowned.

“I was the big, tough guy to Arden, even though she was having a good health day, and I wasn’t. I ran a stop sign, and I almost killed us both. We were fine. I didn’t even hit a curb or anything, but I threw up all over the interior of my car—and Arden. She’s never let me live it down.”

Myra winced. “That sounds horrible.”

“It was. So now I take Ubers everywhere, or I have people drive me if I’m having a bad week driving. I’ve been fine recently, but this might have been a little too much for me.”

“Oh, Nate. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was my idea, and I didn’t know if it was going to be bad or not. I never do until I’m there. I don’t take unnecessary risks. And that’s why you’re going to drive us home, so I’m notyourunnecessary risk.”

“Nate, I…” She trailed off, shaking her head.

I didn’t know what she was going to say, and I was grateful she didn’t finish the sentence.

Because in my head, it sounded so natural to say that I loved her right then. Because I did.

I fucking did.

I had wrapped that feeling around so much hate over the years that I hadn’t let myself feel anything else.

But I loved her.

And I had no idea what the fuck to do about it.

We ended up picking up Thai on our way back to my place, and we retrieved Daisy from Macon’s, as well.

“I love that Daisy doesn’t have to spend the day at home alone and that she gets to spend time with her cousins.”

I laughed. “Truth be told, I don’t think the cats are all that happy she’s there, but they’re getting used to her.”

“True. I guess since we’re eating, she has to go back in the octagon?” Myra asked, setting down the food on the counter as I took Daisy out to the backyard to do her business.

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