Page 57 of Riding the Edge

“Now seems like just as good of a time as any,” I murmur, taking her hand in mine.

Interlocking our fingers, I lead her out of the pew. Freezing in her tracks, she gives my hand a squeeze and causes me to turn my head. Releasing her hold on me, she walks towards the row of candles in front of the chapel. I lean against the door and watch as she makes the sign of the cross and lights a candle. Sending a prayer to God, she bows her head and my eyes sweep back to the cross.

Make me a believer again.

Once she’s finished, she joins me at the back of the chapel and reaches for my hand. There are no words spoken between us as we leave the hospital and make our way to the Charger. I watch her wince as she draws the seatbelt against her chest and leans in to adjust the strap. She thanks me with her eyes and I move behind the wheel. The drive back to her house is just as quiet and when we reach her door, she breaks the silence.

“Thank you,” she says, leaning against the door. “I—what’re you doing?” she questions, diverting her eyes to my feet.

Bending my knees, I pull the laces on my boots.

“Open the door, Lady.”

It takes a moment for her to get her ass in gear but eventually she does as she’s told and opens the door. Stepping inside, she turns and watches as I follow her into the house. Closing the door behind me, I remove my boots and neatly set them on the mat before taking her hand.

“What are you doing, Al?”

What feels right.

Pulling her away from the door, I lead her through the house and towards her bedroom. Standing at the foot of the bed, I grunt as I take in the mountain of fancy pillows.

“Jesus Christ, Lady, you sure like your pillows,” I mutter, plucking them from the mattress.

“Al—”

“Is there a ritual or something you do with these things?”

“They’re pretty,” she answers.

“Yeah, they’re fucking stunning,” I grunt, piling them on the chair in the corner of the room. Done with that task, I turn down the comforter and lift my gaze to hers. “You got a nightgown or something you want to change into?”

“Al, I appreciate the ride—”

“I bet,” I tease.

“Funny,” she fires back.

“I thought so. Now, which drawer do you keep your nightgowns in?”

Sighing, she cocks her head to the side, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You’re not going to quit, are you?”

“No.”

“Will you leave after you tuck me in?”

“No.”

Truthfully, I had no intention of walking into the house. I thought I’d drive her home, get rid of the rental and go back to the hospital to get her car. Maybe I’d check on her but that was it. It wasn’t until she was standing at the door, ready to dismiss me that I realized I couldn’t leave, that I didn’t want to.

Accepting my answer, she steps around me and opens the top drawer of her dresser. I watch her pull out a silk nightgown and step out of her shoes.

“Can you give me a minute?” she questions, twisting the silk between her fingers.

“Yeah,” I nod.

Swiping a hand over my face, I respect her need for privacy and start for the door. As I’m about to step into the hallway, a thought hits me and forces me to turn back to her.

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