Page 16 of Keep Me Safe

“I’m going to pay you,” she says, eyeing me.

Sighing, I drop the subject for now. She can try all she wants. I am not taking any money from her. While I admire her desire to help, that money would be better spent elsewhere. She can use it to help cover college expenses in the fall.

When I look back at Kira, she has her eyebrows scrunched together, and she’s chewing on her bottom lip.

“What’s on your mind?” I ask.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she shakes her head, her eyes shooting up to mine.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine,” she shrugs, looking away from me.

“Don’t do that. You can talk to me,” I say.

Her eyes soften as she lets out a shaky breath. “I just feel like my mom was right. I failed like she said I would,” she admits, her voice breaking at the end.

Tears gather in her eyes, and she bites down on her lip, trying to hold them back. But I see the way her jaw tightens, the way her shoulders tense. She’s fighting it—fighting the hurt, the weight of everything pressing down on her.

Fuck. I can’t just sit here.

Without thinking, I reach for her, pulling her into me. She doesn’t hesitate. She climbs onto my lap, curling into my chest as though she belongs there. My arms fold around her, holding her tight, and I swear I feel her finally let go. A quiet sob escapes her, muffled against my shoulder, and I stroke my hand down her back, letting her know I’m here—that I’ve always been here.

“Hey,” I murmur, my lips near her hair.“It’s okay. This isnotyour fault. The landlord was an asshole for giving you barely any notice.” I squeeze her just a little.“You’re doing so damn well, Kira. You have your shit together way more than I did when I was 18.”

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her lashes damp, her cheeks flushed.“You’re lying,” she sniffs.“There’s no way. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m ahot mess.”

I reach up, brushing a strand of hair from her face, trying to ignore how soft her skin looks, how close her lips are.

“I was an even hotter mess, I promise you that.”

A small laugh breaks through her tears. It’s quiet, but it’s there. Progress. I keep rubbing slow, steady circles on her back, feeling the way her breathing evens out, the way her body relaxes against mine.

She rests her head against my chest, and I exhale, setting my chin gently on top of her head. I shouldn’t hold her like this. Not this long. Not like I don’t want to let go.

But Idon’twant to let go.

She smells like warm vanilla, something sweet and soft, and it’s messing with my head. My entire body is burning with the awareness of her. I need to shut this down before—

She shifts just a little, trying to get comfortable.

And her ass presses right against me.

I go rigid, sucking in a sharp breath.Shit.

She immediately pulls back, eyes wide.“I’m sorry!” she squeaks, scrambling to lift off me.“Did I hurt you?”

Jesus Christ.

“No, princess,” I say, my voice rougher than I’d like.“You’refine.”

She looks at me, reallylooksat me, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted like she’s about to say something. And that stare—fuck, she needs to stop looking at me like that. Like I’m something safe. Like I’m somethingmore.

I clear my throat, desperate for an escape.“Do you want to get ice cream?” I ask, grasping at anything.“If we leave now, we can make it before they close.”

Her face brightens just a little, and relief sweeps through me.

Good. We need to not be alone right now.

chapter five

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