Page 125 of The Lair

I expect my stomach to turn, my mouth to get dry, my hands to start shaking. Everything around me disappears for a moment, even Travis, and I hear it—my heart telling me that I’m safe. That whatever these women want to tell me, I’ll be fine.

Because my past no longer holds the power to destroy my future.

“I am,” I say. I feel Travis’s eyes on me, but he stays quiet.

“We just wanted to tell you that you were very brave,” the other woman says. “We had no idea you’d gone through all of that. It must have been horrible.”

“It really opened our eyes to what we should post online,” her friend says. “Like,really. It was so admirable.”

“Thank you,” I tell them honestly.

I don’t know what else to say because I’ve never been in this situation before, but luckily, they speak again before it has the chance to turn awkward.

“No, thankyou,” the same woman says before sliding her gaze up to Travis. “We just wanted to tell you that. I hope we didn’t ruin your date.”

My heart jumps at that word. “It’s fine. I really appreciate you being so kind to me.”

“It’s nothing,” her friend says. “Hope you guys enjoy your night.”

“You too,” Travis tells them, squeezing my waist. When they’re gone, he lowers his mouth to my ear and whispers, “Did I tell you I’m fucking proud of you?”

I turn my head until his lips graze my cheek. “And did I tell you I’m glad you’re here?”

He nuzzles his nose behind my ear, a whole sky of goose bumps erupting on my skin.I love him. I love him so much.

Nobody else comes up to us as we finish looking at the exhibit, and I find myself not paying attention to my surroundings. It’s weird, I realize, how I’m not in survival mode anymore despite my face being all over TV and social media these days. I don’t feel in danger, and I know it’s partly because I feel strong and capable having Travis by my side and partly because my worst fear came to life and I’m still standing.

I survived, and I’ll do it again as many times as I have to.

Chapter Forty

“If I squint my eyes,I think I can see a star,” I mutter, my neck craned up toward the sky sometime later that night.

We’re probably not in the best spot for stargazing, with the city skyline right in front of us, but that doesn’t stop me from trying.

“This is why I don’t do big cities,” Travis says next to me, eyes lost on the horizon. “Too much noise, too much pollution. Too much of everything.”

“Is that a Navy thing?” I can’t help but ask. “I mean, do you prefer quiet after the Navy?”

“I’ve always liked small-town life. Offers me everything I need.” I stop looking at the sky to glance at him, only to find that his eyes are already on me. “Do you miss living in a big city?”

“Not really. I’d always lived in a big city, so I didn’t know how much I’d grow to appreciate the quiet until I moved to a small town. Now I can’t imagine myself living in this chaos again.”

I can’t imagine living anywhere else but in Bannport. With you.

“I never asked you,” I start, my voice quiet. “You’re playing hooky.”

“I’m the boss, sweetheart. I call the shots.”

Why did that sound so hot?

“Who’s in charge of The Lair, then?”

“Jude is taking over until I come back.”

A shiver travels down my spine. The wind has picked up—not enough to freeze me, but it’s chilly. The fact that I’m leaning against a cold, metallic handrail doesn’t help.

He notices.

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