Page 240 of Irreversible

Laughing, I move away, blowing a kiss to Queenie as she raises her empty glass in my direction. Isaac grabs me by the hand the moment I’m close enough, linking our fingers together. His rough, calloused palm cradles mine and I sink into the warmth, the undeniable connection.

I peer up at him, a light breeze making my ponytail catch flight. “Hey. I missed you.”

We saunter onto the sidewalk and stroll past his Jeep, heading toward the downtown district that’s teeming with families and shoppers. Isaac glances skyward, squinting at the sun. “I know.” Then he looks down at me, his features softening as he scans my face, my dreamy-eyed expression, as my tongue pokes past my lips. “You’re trouble, you know that?”

I grin, tilting my head. “Oh, yeah? What kind of trouble?”

He leans closer, his voice dropping low. “The kind I can’t seem to stay away from.”

“Good. Sounds like my plan is working.”

His lips twitch in that almost-smile of his, the one that melts me every time.

These little moments are everything these days: the wind in my hair, children laughing, birds singing from treetops, the salt breeze on my skin.

His hand in mine.

I take nothing for granted anymore. I know, more than most, that these precious seconds are what stitch the canvas of life together. Tiny, fragile pieces that might seem small on their own, but together—they make us whole.

Pausing on the sidewalk, I pull my hand from his and point at the building signage on my right. It must be fate. “Oh! Pitstop.”

He frowns, his gaze following my finger. “Really?”

“I promised, right?”

His eyes dim for a beat, glazing over with memory, before sparking back to life. He waves me off, nodding.

I return ten minutes later, finding him right where I left him, leaning back against the brick siding. Tossing him a pack of cigarettes from the adjacent convenience store, I hold up my other treasure and waggle my eyebrows. “Ready to try it?”

“Do I have to?”

“It’s our thing. You bring the bubble tea, and I bring the cigarettes.” I shrug. “I saved you a trip and grabbed both.”

Grumbling, Isaac snatches the pink drink from my hand and takes a sip. His face immediately sours as he ingests the strawberry milk tea. “Disgusting, as predicted.” He hands me back the giant plastic cup. “Enjoy your sludge.”

With a chuckle, I watch him flip the cigarette box open a few times, drawing one out, then pushing it back inside. “What were you up to while I was at lunch?” I ask, slurping from my straw.

Isaac hums under his breath. “If I tell you, I’d spoil my very specific plans for later.” He glances back toward his Jeep and tucks the pack of cigarettes into his pocket. “Maybe I got you something, too. Your birthday is coming up.”

My eyes round through a gasp. “I knew there were suspension ropes in your trunk.”

“Along with gags and zip ties.”

I bite my lip and smile, stepping toward him. Swallowing, I clasp his face with both hands, finding his gaze and watching as the gold flecks flicker, swirling with brown. “Weird way to say you love me.”

His eyes shimmer with affection and heat as he reaches for me, tugging me close. Then he rests his chin on the top of my head and inhales deeply, pressing a kiss to my hair. “I tolerate you.”

“Yeah,” I whisper back, sliding into the warmth of his arms, knowing I finally found my place. My home. It’s more than four walls—more than a box on the ground, or a roof over my head. It’s the steady beat of his heart against mine. It’s safety and chaos, comfort and fire.

It’s him. It’s us.

“I tolerate you, too, Isaac.”

54

“Sorry I’m late.” Everly rushes through the door, a large plastic cup in one hand, and a bag of groceries in the other. “I had to rescue a taran—” The word cuts off in a gasp as I close in from behind, slipping a scarf across her eyes.

“Shh…” Wrapping my arms around her, I nip at her earlobe, letting her know she’s safe. “I have a surprise for you.”

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