Page 119 of His to Burn
“Do what?”
“Stay so calm.”
But his voice came low. “Something I picked up over time.”
“You’ll have to teach me,” I said.
“I hope you never need to learn.”
Something in his tone made me pause.
My gaze dropped to his arm. “Oh! You didn’t say anything.”
“About what?”
“You’re bleeding.”
He glanced down and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Hold on.” I stood and didn’t bother with boots. I was anxious to move before, but the adrenaline wore off and the exhaustion settled in.
Still, I moved back through the restaurant with more energy than I felt, past Caitlin, who was curled up in a booth, then Miles shifting nervously near the entrance to the kitchen. I grabbed the first aid kit and the pack of wipes Lourdes gave me and returned to Jack.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Can’t have you getting an infection,” I said.
“Asia, this isn’t necessary.”
I looked him in the eye. “Hush, Jackson.”
He let me clean and bandage the wound without another word. His skin was warm under my touch, and even though it was just antiseptic and gauze, it felt like something else.
Felt like trust.
I finished and sat next to him. He shifted slightly, shoulder brushing mine, and that tiny contact might as well have been a vow. I didn’t lean in, didn’t push. But my body noticed.
So did his.
Even through the garbage bags, I noticed that night was starting to fall.
I leaned closer to Jack then, and wasn’t even embarrassed about it.
We just sat like that.
Waiting.
Shoulder to shoulder.
Whatever came next, we’d face it together.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Jack
Two Days on the Road
“Are you sure about this?”Asia asked.
