Page 62 of High Stakes and Soulmates
“I wonder if it was sharing your story of him with me that made you anxious and then this is just an awful coincidence.”
I nod. I don’t know if he truly believes that or if he’s simply trying his hardest to calm me down.
“Come on, let’s get off the road. What if I have Julian pick you up?”
“I’m fine. I’m being foolish,” I say.
“How the hell is it being foolish? Don’t ever say something like that again and diminish your feelings. You weren’t being foolish at all,” Cyrus reassures me while he reaches up and smooths my hair back.
I sigh and set my face down against his chest, assuming this is the only time I’ll be permitted to hug him tightly, and I want to get my fill of it. At least one good thing needs to happen from this hell.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Please explain why you’d even consider apologizing?” he asks as he holds me.
“I don’t know. I feel like I made a fool of myself. I’m supposed to be all sexy for you so I can woo you, and instead, I just panicked for no reason and ran off. Then I became one with the road and am now using it as an excuse to hug you.”
“You don’t need an excuse for a hug.”
“So can I hug you every day then?”
“You’re ridiculously greedy,” Cyrus decides.
“Maybe I am,” I say as I squeeze him to me.
“But yes, you can hug me whenever you need a hug. I’m going to call Casimir and tell him you’re going to be heading there. I wish I could help, but I can’t leave here.”
“I can still help.”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t need help. You’ve already done quite a bit. You figured this out and we finally have something to work on,” he assures me.
“But I want to help.”
“I know you do, but there’s nothing else for you to do at this scene, so I don’t need help.” He drags me to my feet and gets the car door open before guiding me into it. “Or do you need someone to drive you home? Pukes-a-lot is available. I can have him drive you after he broke your nose. He owes you that much.”
“No, I’m fine,” I say. “You’re right. I just panicked. I hadn’t heard that word in such a long time. I left Italy right after he died and hearing it again…”
“I’m sure. I’m sorry. That had to have been hard. I’ll keep you up to date when I hear something more, okay?”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“Of course. You’re… still hugging me, which I feel might make it hard to drive away.”
“I could figure it out if you let me keep hugging you,” I say, loving every second of it. The smell of him, the feel of him. I really don’t ever want to let go. And if he didn’t make me, I would be prepared to hang on for the rest of the day and then some.
Cyrus manages to pry me off, and then just like… pats my head. It’s an odd gesture, but I love it so much that I find myself wanting him to pat me on the head again. Weirdly, he doesn’tseem ready to, and instead just starts buckling me in like I’m not a vampire who could live through a car crash.
“Be careful.”
“You too,” I respond, reluctant to leave him alone. Especially with this killer on the loose. “Maybe I should stay with you.”
“I’m fine, okay? I honestly do have to work here. And then my friend is staying the night, so I’ll be fine.”
“Your friend?” I ask, feeling disappointed again.
He must notice because he says, “The most platonic of friends I could ever have, okay? I promise. I will introduce you… later.” He glances over at the people staring at us. “Sometime when we’re alone.”
I’m not convinced, but he holds up his phone. “I’m calling Casimir to tell him you’re headed there. Got it?”
