Page 102 of Bloom: Part 2

“I’d rather we follow through with our plans.”

“Are you—”

“Please, Logan. There’s a lot—a lot I discovered just now. I need to do something normal.”

“I understand. Shopping it is.”

Outside, Ben waited in his car. Gunner’s bike was gone. Ben wound down his window. “Everything good?”

“Yeah. We’re heading to the store now.”

“Sounds good. I’ll follow.”

I opened the door for Bloom. When he sat, I leaned in to kiss him on the lips, but he turned his head and my mouth landed on his cheek. I frowned. Was his gesture deliberate or accidental?

I didn’t press further. Whatever happened inside was between him and his therapist. As much as I longed to know, I didn’t want him to think he needed to tell me everything they discussed.

“You’ll definitely enjoy the store I chose.” I reached for my seat belt. “I’ve been shopping there for—”

Bloom leaned across the center console and wrapped his arms around me. I dropped the seat belt and pulled him close. He burrowed closer, burying his face in the crook of my neck and shoulder.

“Sweetheart…”

Maybe I should have listened to him and not insisted on him returning to his therapy appointments. He seemed so stressed about everything that had happened. But this was just growing pains, right? He would be okay.

“Just hold me, Logan,” he murmured. “Just for a minute. I’m feeling a little lost.”

Jesus.

That just about ripped my heart out.

“Take all the time you need.” I held him tightly against me, ignoring the throbbing of him pressed up against the area where he’d stabbed me with his knife. A tremor ran through him, and he let out a soft moan like he was in pain.

“I hate them,” he said. “I hate them so much for what they did to me. If only they weren’t dead, so I could kill them all over again.”

I rubbed his back. “Your parents?”

“Don’t call them that.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

He heaved a sigh and shuffled back, so I released him, even though I wasn’t ready to let him go.

“I’m not going to let them ruin my life still,” he said. “They’re dead. They can’t hurt me anymore.”

“And even if they weren’t, I wouldn’t let them.” I squeezed his hand. “You’re safe with me. You know that, right?”

He gave me a small smile that eased some of the compression around my heart. “I know. And that’s why I want to marry you, not just for you to give me your name. You love me in spite of everything.”

“Then let’s get our suits for the big day, right?”

“Right. Let’s go.”

He secured his seat belt, and I followed suit. The ride to the store was silent, except for the soft hum of the radio, so low we couldn’t hear the words, but it filled the space enough. Every few minutes, I checked if he was doing all right. He seemed lost in his world, staring out the window, but I would bet he wasn’t seeing anything we passed.

The store was nestled in the high-end streets of Smoky Vale, its windows filled with displays of sleek, modern suits and elegant wedding attire. We found street side parking, and I helped Bloom out of the car.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll be just across the street.” Ben gestured at a café. “Call me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll meet you inside.”

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