Page 88 of Jolt's Vengeance

Hell, I don’t even know if I want to tell anyone what happened, especially my Da.

But as I look at Jolt, at the strength and support radiating from him, I know that whatever comes, we'll face it together.

"Ye know," I say, breaking the silence that had fallen between us, "I never thought I'd be comin’ back like this."

Jolt raises an eyebrow. "Like what? With a handsome prospect as your ol' man?"

I can't help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from deep inside me.

It feels good to laugh, to feel something other than fear or worry. "Well, that too. But I meant... I dunno. Different, I guess."

"Different how?" he asks, genuinely curious.

I pause, trying to put my feelings into words. "When I left for Vegas, I was running away from somethin’. From my past, from the club life, from... everythin’. I thought I needed to find myself, to become someone new."

Jolt nods, encouraging me to continue.

"But now," I go on, "I feel like I'm not runnin’ anymore. Like I'm finally facing everything head-on. And it's terrifyin’, but it also feels... right. Yer part of that, I think."

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Aggie," Jolt says, his voice filled with admiration. "You've been through hell, but you're still standing. Still fighting."

I feel a lump form in my throat at his words. "We both have."

He squeezes my hand, a gesture that's become so familiar, so comforting. "Yeah, we have. And we'll keep fighting, together."

As we drive deeper into Billings, familiar landmarks start to appear.

The old diner where I used to grab milkshakes after school, the park where I scraped my knees learning to ride a bike, the corner where I had my first kiss.

Each sight brings a flood of memories, both good and bad.

"It's strange," I muse, "how a place can feel so familiar and so foreign at the same time."

Jolt glances at me, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"

I nod, offering him a small smile. "Yeah, just... processing, I guess. It's a lot to take in."

"I can imagine," he says softly. "Must be weird, coming back after everything that's happened."

"Weird doesn't even begin to cover it," I admit with a wry chuckle. "Part of me feels like that girl who left for Vegas, all wide-eyed and naive. And part of me feels like... like I've lived a lifetime since then."

Jolt's hand finds mine again, his touch grounding me. "You have, in a way. You've been through things that change a person. But you're still you, Aggie. Still, that fierce, beautiful woman I fell for."

His words make my heart skip a beat, and I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. "Careful there, Jolt. You're starting to sound downright sappy."

He grins, a rare sight that never fails to take my breath away. "Don't tell anyone. I've got a reputation to maintain."

We both crack up into laughter, but I see something I’ve been dreaming of for the last couple of hours.

The familiar red cowboy hat of Arby's looms ahead, and my stomach growls on cue.

I glance over at Jolt, taking him in as he navigates the SUV into the drive-thru lane.

His jaw is set, eyes focused on the road, but there's a softness to his expression that wasn't there when we first met.

It makes my heart flutter.

Jolt catches me looking and quirks an eyebrow.

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