Page 114 of Panther's Magpie
“She’s hurting and lashing out. I knew she wouldn’t like us together. She will get over it eventually. We might not be the friends we were before, but we will learn to live with each other,” she whispers to me.
A peaceful calm comes over me. Cupping her neck, I kiss the top of her head.
“Why are you so perfect?” I ask her.
She laughs despite the fact it has to hurt after being choked. As much as it hurts to hear, I love it because it means that she’s still here. She’s still alive.
“I’m not. I’m logical. Aspen has been my constant for so long, but maybe it’s time we learn how to live without having each other as a crutch,” she rasps.
“So are you saying I’m your new crutch?” I tease.
She looks up at me, her eyes beaming. “Maybe.”
I kiss her nose. “I don’t mind holding you up. I’ve always got you.”
She laughs. “I know you do. Everything is going to be all right. You know that, right?”
“Shouldn’t I be reassuring you?” I ask her.
“Maybe sometimes, but I can feel it in my bones. This is where I’m supposed to be.”
“So no going back to Cali? What about school?”
She shrugs. “I never liked school anyway. I love learning and read several books a day. But school was something to do until I figured out what my life purpose is.”
“So you’ve figured it out, have you?”
“Of course.”
“Well, tell me. Don’t leave me hanging in suspense.”
“My purpose is to be your old lady and help you run this club.”
My heart damn near stops in my chest. I know I called her it just minutes ago, but it hits differently coming from her mouth.
Leaning in, I kiss her. “Say it again.”
“What? That I’m your old lady.”
I smile against her lips, kissing her harder. “Fuck yeah, you are. You’re my Magpie. Mine.”
“Panther’s Magpie. I like the sound of that,” she says, giggling.
“Me too. I can’t wait to show you how much. That will have to wait. I have some things to take care of. Are you sure you’re okay? Meek told me about Ava.”
She deflates. “I hate that Meek had to do that for me.”
“He was happy to. No one ever liked Ava,” I tell her.
“No, but that doesn’t mean she deserved to die. She wanted to kill me, though,” she admits.
“She did, and I told you these brothers would protect you.”
“Not the one on the gate,” she mutters.
“That was my mistake. He wasn’t a full-fledged brother yet. He’s one of the things I need to deal with. I promise, I won’t be so careless again. You will always be protected.”
She lets out a small breath. “I know. With you I’m safe.”
