Page 45 of Bulletproof Love

I sigh as Leon speaks up behind me. “Falin’s right. Jas, let me in. I’ve got her.”

At the sound of Leon’s calming voice, Kayla’s sobs slow. She looks at him with swollen eyes as Falin smooths her tangled hair. “This is Leon,” Falin murmurs. “He’s family. He’ll take care of you.”

She unwraps her arms from Falin’s torso and inches away from Leon. Understandable after what she’s been through. As they speak to her in gentle tones, I step away to collect myself.

My hands shake as a craving hits me hard. Maybe the adrenaline is wearing off, maybe it’s their sobs that echo through my mind. Either way, if that medic offered me something to knock me out, I’d gladly accept. Numb would be perfect right now.

But as I glance back at Falin’s silhouette through the smudged window, I know I’m full of shit. She needs me here. Really here. Not floating in some doped up haze. I jam my hands into my pockets and draw in a breath, the realization hitting me: I want to be her rock. I’ll take it all—the pain, the regret, the shame—because caring about her is worth feeling everything.

Falin climbs out of the van, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. My feet carry me toward her without a thought, and when I open my arms, she falls into them silently. No fight, no bratty remark. She takes the comfort that I so desperately need to give.

We stay like that until Ray’s van drives away and Damon taps me on the back.

“I didn’t want to interrupt, but I’m freezing my nuts off and it’s late as fuck.” He hands me the keys to his car. “I’ll take Leon’s bike home.”

This is big for him. “Thank you. I wasn’t even thinking about how we’d all get home.”

Damon squeezes my shoulder, eyeing Falin in my arms. “I think you had a few other things to worry about.”

“It’s a long drive. You want to hop in the car? We can leave the bike somewhere safe and grab it tomorrow.”

“Yeah, and get murdered by Leon? I’m good.” He stretches his arms above his head. “It’ll be good to clear my mind anyway. Just check on Blake if you get home before me.”

He walks off toward Leon’s bike. Falin starts to pull away, but I hold her close for one more moment, savoring the feel of her soft curves and warmth. When she finally eases back, I brush my knuckle down her cheek, tipping her chin up. Our eyes meet and I give her a lopsided smile. “I don’t know about you, but I could demolish a double cheeseburger and a huge ass piece of apple pie. Saw a twenty-four hour diner on the drive in. You up for it?”

She lets out a surprised laugh, and her tear-stained face brightens. My chest loosens at the sound. “Only you would be thinking about food right now.” But she squeezes my hand. “And yes. Yes to all of that.”

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

FALIN

“I thinkthat may have been the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had in my twenty-four years of life.” I sink back in the vinyl booth and lift my mug of steaming coffee to my lips for a sip. “And the best coffee.” Jasper polishes off his last bite of apple pie and before I can second guess myself, I lean across the booth and dab a few stray crumbs from the corner of his lip, then pop my finger into my mouth.

His eyes follow my finger, lingering on my lips. They’re dark and intense, like he can see underneath my skin. He adjusts slightly in the booth, and I clear my throat to break the tension. “Saving those crumbs for later? A little early morning snack?”

“I’d much rather have a different snack.”

I shake my head. I guess I had that coming after what I just did. He reaches over and takes my cup of coffee. “Hey… I’m still drinking that.”

“Just a sip. Sharing is caring.” He gives me another one of those dumb yet adorable grins. Our waitress comes by with the check as he hands me back my mug with nothing but a drip left in it. I scowl at him.

“You two close to home?” our waitress asks as she tidies our empty plates.

“Not too bad,” Jasper answers for us.

“Oh good, it’s really starting to come down now. I’m off at five. Hope I can get out of this dang parking lot.”

We turn at the same time to look out the window into the dark. I can’t see much in their limited lighting.

“It’s snowing out there?” Jasper asks.

“Oh yeah… my husband said we’re looking at around six inches. Might be a couple on the roads already.”

Well, isn’t that just wonderful.

Jasper pays while I use the restroom, and when I head back over to him, he holds out an article of clothing. “What’s this?” I lift it up and laugh. It’s a brown hoodie with a picture of a smiling apple pie. I read the slogan. “Life’s short, eat dessert first.”

“I fully agree with that statement,” he says with a wink. “You need something warmer to wear.”

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