Page 64 of Resist

As my eyes close, I know I’m going to be okay surrounded by people who care.

TWENTY-EIGHT

We don’t leave our pit for two days.

We watch movies, talk shit, listen to music, and eat junk food. Fox slowly comes back to life, but every night, he wakes with a gasp and clutches me like he’s worried I’ve disappeared. I’m always there to promise him I won’t and that I never will.

Po has kept his word. No police have come.

We all turned our phones off, and we know there are reporters outside, but we block the world out, creating a safe space for him.

I know we’ll have to leave eventually, but not until he’s ready.

“How aboutPrincess Diaries?” Strike suggests.

“No, we just finished the firstMs. Congeniality, so we should watch the second!” Dash argues.

Fox is wrapped around me, his head on my shoulder as I lean back into him, smiling as I watch them quarrel. “But she finds out she’s a princess?—”

“She finds Dolly?—”

“This is what I needed,” Fox interrupts, and I blink, turning to see him. “Just you guys, thank you.”

“Stop saying thank you,” I murmur as I kiss his cheek. “Besides, do you really want these idiots to think you find them funny? Please, they won’t ever stop.”

He smiles, and it’s the first full one I’ve seen since everything happened. My heart stutters at the sight of it. When his sparkling eyes land on me, it only grows. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I murmur. “So much.”

My cock stirs to life as he tugs me closer, but I ignore it as I cuddle back into him. “I’m ready,” Fox states after squeezing me, drawing their attention. “Po will want to talk to us, and so will the police. I’m ready.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. I don’t want him rushing into this because he feels like he has to.

“I am.” He hugs me closer. “It’s time. I want to get this over with. I don’t want him to have another second of my time. He broke my heart before, and I refuse to let him have another day of my future again.”

I’m worried, but I have to trust that he knows what he can handle. “If you’re sure . . .”

“I am.”

I nod at Strike, and he leaves, coming back with our phones. With a look at us, he lays them down and turns them on.

The screens show our screensavers, and within seconds, they start to blow up. There are so many notifications, we all gape. It doesn’t stop for minutes, and when I finally pick up my phone, I ignore everything else and hit Po’s number.

He answers on the first ring. “Are you guys okay?” he asks.

“We’re okay. Fox is here, and he wants to talk to the police and you,” I tell him.

“Are you sure he’s ready?” Po asks softly. “If he isn’t, I can push them off. I haven’t released a statement yet, and everyone is going crazy, but I don’t care. We’ll keep them at bay as long as he needs.”

That only seems to make Fox more sure, and he nods. “I’m sure, Po,” he says. “Can they come today? I don’t want to go out yet.”

“I’ll make sure they come to you guys, and I’ll arrive with them.” He hesitates. “Fox, I’m so sorry about what happened to you. Just know we have your back, okay? Whatever you need, I mean it. That’s what I’m here for. Just take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, Po,” he responds with a tight smile. “I’ll be okay, I think. I just want this over with.”

“Understood. Any time in particular?”

“Two hours?” I ask. That will give us time to get ready.

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