Page 63 of Accepted Precedent
“We need to get out of here,” Kristin insists, pushing past us.
I grip her arm to stop her. “What the fuck is going on?” I repeat a little more forcefully.
She pulls out a keycard and drags me with her across the hall. “I’ll explain once we’re inside.” Calling over her shoulder, she hisses, “Come on. We don’t have much time.”
We file into her room. The moment the door shuts behind us, Mickey has Evelyn’s face in his hands, roughly kissing her. It would be a sweet moment if her arms weren’t painted red.
“Who was that guy in there? Did you kill him?”
Kristin takes my hand and leads me to her bed, sitting at the edge of it. “I don’t know how much I can share, but Evelyn and I are okay.”
My arms fly wide. “What about any of this is okay? My best friend and the woman I love are?—”
“Don’t,” she warns.
“Don’t what?”
“Just… don’t.”
I sit beside her and take her hand in mine. “I do though.”
“No, you love Mickey.”
I glance over to Evie and Mick. He checks her over, despite her insistence that she’s fine. She hands him a surgical glove and whispers something to him, entirely too proud of herself.
“I can love more than one person,” I admit, pulling my attention back to her. “I love Mickey; he makes me feel safe and secure. I love Evelyn; she’s like family, and we lean on each other. But you?” I squeeze her hand tighter. “You make me want to be the best version of myself.”
“So, you love people because of how they make you feel, not because of who they are?”
“How do I make you feel?”
She watches the interaction between her sister and Mick, and sighs, “Inadequate.”
I’m about to ask why when Mick announces, “I’m going to take Evie back to my room to get her cleaned up.”
“No,” Evie protests but offers Kristin a small smile. “I promised I would stay with her tonight.”
“Then she can come with us,” Mick chuckles.
“No offense, Mr. Gallagher, but I amnotsharing a bed with you.”
He lets out a full laugh. “I have a two-room suite, love. The hotel always upgrades me, even if I insist one bed is enough. Come stay with us.”
“And listen to you hump like rabbits? I’ll pass, thanks.”
“We’ll all go,” I offer. Keeping her hand firmly in mine, I then whisper to her, “I’ll sleep on the ground if you want, but we need to talk.”
Mick’s eyes narrow on our joined hands, but Evelyn wraps her arms around him, making his expression soften. With a curt nod, he interlaces his fingers with Evie’s and insists, “Help her pack and meet me in my room. Also, Ms. Proctor, please call Ned and let him know he can begin cleanup.”
“Of course, Mr. Gallagher.”
“Mickey,” he corrects. “Thank you for taking care of our girl.”
“It was the other way around, sir.”
A proud grin dances on his face but he quickly hides it. “I’m just glad you’re both okay.”
Chapter 27
