Page 64 of The Rookie
She steps aside and motions for me to enter. I make my way inside, scanning the room as I take it all in. Her place is a tiny efficiency with a futon bed. It’s cold, with none of the warmth or personality I would expect of her home.
“Have you lived here long? It’s pretty ... spartan.”
She inhales through her nose and wanders toward the windows. “It’s clean, and it’s what I can afford right now.”
“Of course. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
Damn, I’m already off on the wrong foot.
“It’s okay,” she says, turning to face me.
Her eyes have a faraway look in them, and I realize for the first time that she looks sad. It’s an expression I’ve never seen her wear before, and I don’t like it. I want to see her smile, hear her laugh. I rub at an achy spot in the center of my chest.
“Would you like to sit?” she asks, motioning to the futon sofa.
I nod, and we take a seat.
I don’t know where to start, so I do the only thing I can think of. “You asked what I was doing here. Total honesty?”
Her gaze slowly meets mine, and she nods. “Always.”
I inhale slowly. “When you left me back in Colorado, something inside me broke.”
Confusion and maybe something hopeful flashes through her eyes. “Logan ...”
I take her hand and press it into my palm. “Hold on. I’m not done.”
She nods for me to go ahead.
“I know it scared you, but I meant every word I said to you that day you left. I’ve fallen for you. I think about you every second.”
Summer doesn’t answer, and my heart hammers uncomfortably against my ribs.
I squeeze her hand. “Summer. Say something.”
“Total honesty,” she says. “Yeah, it does scare me. It scares the hell out of me.”
“You’re not alone anymore. You know that, right? I’ll be your family.”
“Just you?”
“Yes.” I bring her hand to my lips and press a soft kiss to it. “You can have all of me. All I want is to make you happy. To make you whole, just like you did for me.”
Tears fill her eyes. “I want that too.” She draws in a deep breath. “But I’m scared. What if it doesn’t work out?”
I press my lips to her knuckles again and then hold her hand in my lap. “Aren’t you the one who told me it’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes?”
She smiles. “I guess I was. Are you thinking I need to take my own advice?”
“It was good advice. Come on, sweetheart. Take this chance with me.”
“You’re a hard man to say no to.”
I place my fingers beneath her chin and bring her mouth to mine. Our kiss is slow, sweet, soft. When I pull back a moment later, there are unshed tears glistening in her eyes. I tug Summer into my lap, needing her close, needing to comfort her.
“I love you, Summer.” My voice is thick with emotion, and hers is too when she says it back to me.
“I love you, Logan.”
