Page 102 of When It Reins
“Hey,” Juniper says, and I glance up, wiping my face with my sleeve. “I’m okay, Mitch.”
“You almost weren’t,” I reply, almost scolding her for going home when she shouldn’t. But what the fuck does it even matter now. “You almost weren’t.”
Tears fill her eyes, and I stand, getting as close to her as I can without hurting her. “I’m sorry. I had no idea he’d be waitingthere, and I wouldn’t have let us get to the car if he hadn’t been threatening Rosemary and Sienna.”
I sigh, understanding finally hitting me. “He was holding the people you love over your head.”
“I’m sorry I broke up with you. I didn’t want to.” Her words are as hoarse as mine were a moment ago, and I lean forward, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips.
“You never broke up with me, Starling. I wouldn’t let that happen.”
Her eyes close, and another tear streaks down her face. I know how overwhelmed she must be with everything that’s happened. We both are. I wipe it away.
“I was so scared,” she whispers, shaking her head. “I didn’t want to hurt him, but I know that if I let him take me, he would have hurt me.”
I look at her, taking her face in my hands and staring her down. “You did the right thing.”
She looks at me, her lip trembling. “I killed him.”
“No,” I reply adamantly. “He killed himself. He crashed his car because he was kidnapping you and holding you against your will. He was the reason he was in that situation. If he had left you alone, the worst that would have happened is he would have been arrested for arson.” I bend forward, kissing a tear off of her cheek, and pull back to look at her again. “You have nothing to feel sorry for.”
She nods, holding me with her good hand. “Thank you for finding me in time.”
I shake my head, smiling at her. “Don’t you know? You hold my heart. I’ll always find you.”
Leaning back on the bed, she smiles at me. Tears still stream down her face, but I expect a lot of that for a little while.
We’ve been through something no one should ever have to endure. We’ve been dealt a hand that was damn near impossible to overcome.
But we did it, and we’ll continue to take on everything life throws at us.
Together.
50
juniper
Staringat the wooden slats in the ceiling above me, I take a full breath.
It’s been four days since the accident, and I finally talked Mitch into getting me out of the hospital just last night, begging for some form of normalcy.
When we did, we had nowhere we wanted to go.
My apartment is now tainted, a place I’m not sure I will ever feel comfortable returning to. Mitch’s cabin is gone, currently sitting in a pile of rubble, and just the thought of that makes a tear slide down my cheek.
Our families were more than happy to take us in, to take care of us, knowing what we’ve been through the last few months, but we wanted to be alone, wanted to finally just be us for a little while.
So Mitch found us a room at The Lodge, checking us in, getting us one of their newer suites they just finished, and helping me get settled. He ran a full bubble bath first, filling the water with a soothing smell and lighting candles to set the mood.
I could tell he needed to take care of me, that he was desperate to get me to relax, and I let him. I’m not the type who likes being taken care of. I like being the one who takes care of others, but just this once, I am happy to let him take charge.
Though I did require him to join me in the tub, which he happily obliged.
Now, he rests on the king-sized bed beside me, his breaths deep and full as he sleeps peacefully. I’m sure, like me, he is just now getting a full night’s rest after many sleepless nights.
I take in a breath, the tears gathering in my eyes again as I think over everything that’s happened this week. I can’t believe it has only been a week.
My injuries make my body feel sore and achy all over, but I close my eyes, grateful that I actually made it out alive.
