Page 49 of Until We Break

I walked her over to the small loveseat so we could sit. It seemed like steering her away from the bed, was the right move right now.

“I thought about tearing it up. I thought about burning it. I didn’t want it. I don’t want.” I pressed my palm firmly into hers. “I didn’t ask for it.”

“When we were at the hospital, the aunt tried to give us both money. We turned it down then. None of this makes sense. Why do you have it, Caleb? And how?”

I cleared my throat. “Carrie came to see me yesterday. She went to my commanding officer, Guthrie, and he set up a meeting. She wanted to thank me for saving Lucas.” I had to keep going so Margot didn’t get the wrong idea. No part of me wanted this money. “The first thing I did was tell her you were the one who rescued Lucas, not me. You are the hero in the story. The superhero.”

Margot tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I don’t want credit. And I don’t want the money they tried to pay us with. That’s not what upsets me so much about seeing the check.”

“You deserve the credit, though. And the credit should be given to you. The only thing I can think of is that I’m easier to find. I have the uniform, the cool boat, all that stuff.” I smiled. “I’m going to give it back to her. I promise you. I can’t take the money. I’m pretty sure I would be dishonorably discharged.”

Margot’s eyes widened. “You would? That’s terrible. That can’t happen. Carrie needs to accept that.”

“I’m scared someone’s going to find out that she paid me. It’s why I’m hiding it. No one else knows, except you.”

“I’m not going to tell anyone.” She softened. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“I know you wouldn’t. I trust you, even if you are mad. Justifiably angry,” I added.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

I nodded with more resolve. “I’m going to give it back to her.”

“When?”

“Tonight,” I answered.

“Tonight?” She looked even more puzzled.

“Yeah. She invited me over to have dinner with her and Lucas. She said he was asking about me.”

“So he’s okay?” Margot searched for assurance that the kid had made it out of the hospital.

“Yeah. It sounds like he’s doing great.” I traced my thumb against her cheek. “None of this should have happened the way it did. I shouldn’t have the check. I never should have let it leave my CO’s office. And I’m sorry that Carrie is taking this in the wrong direction.”

“What do you mean by that?” Her eyes lit with new interest.

“I’m just saying, she might be flirting, or something.”

Margot blinked. “You mean she’s interested in you?” She sat back a little to study me. Study my reaction.

I shrugged. “I don’t care. I’m only interested in you.” I smiled.

Margot pressed her palm to her forehead. “This is complicated.”

“No. It’s not. Why don’t you go with me?”

“You want me to go to dinner at Carrie’s? She didn’t invite me.”

My hands tangled in Margot’s hair. Only twenty minutes ago, she had been riding me, taking me under. We were about to fuck all morning long until that damn check threw a bucket of water on us. I was dying to hold her again. Touch her. Kiss her.

“You are going over to Pointe Harbor with me as my guest. Carrie can’t have a problem with that. You’re more attached to Lucas. And I know he wants to see you too. You can personally watch me give her the check back. She won’t be able to say no if you’re there. A witness is actually a really good idea.”

I could tell she was mulling it over.

“Can I think about it?”

“Yeah, you can think about it.” I waited another breath. “Are we good, Margot?”

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