Page 19 of Stay With Me
“I’m working on it, babe. Breaker is looking at every angle, trying to find a way to get to this fucker. We just need a little time.” His eyes look so sure, so convinced that everything will be fine. But the overwhelming sense of dread I feel is threatening to suffocate me.
“What if we don’t have time?” My voice is watery as I look up at him, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I can’t lose you, Ev. I won’t”
He places a gentle kiss on my lips, lingering there as we both breathe each other in. “You will not lose me, Kelsea. I promise you.” He pulls my head to his chest, stroking my hair softly as I memorize the sound of his heartbeats.
“Don’t make me a promise you can’t keep, Everett,” I tell him. He drags my body up the mattress, situating us against the pillows as he pulls me snuglyagainst his body. I never would have imagined that post-sex cuddling would become a norm for us, but I’m not complaining. I love sharing these moments with him, knowing I’m the only one who ever has.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, goddess. Sleep. Everything is going to be okay.” His voice is always a balm to my fears, calming the storm raging in my soul. I feel myself drift off to sleep, but I can’t shake the nagging feeling that he won’t be able to keep that promise.
sixteen
I’ve beenable to hold Kelsea off for almost two full days. She’s been so adamant that I need to explain everything that’s been going on to Elijah, but I told her no. I don’t want to give him another burden to shoulder when he just brought home his babies. This is my problem to solve, not his. But this morning she threatened my life.
Well, technically, she threatened to withhold sex, which is essentially the same thing. Because at this point, I’m not sure I can survive without a taste of her body at least once a day.
I pull up to Grovewood Ink and see his truck parked in the alley on the side of the building. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I check my phone and see a message from Kelsea on the lock screen.
Kelsea: Did you tell him yet?
This woman is relentless. But I know she’s only riding my ass because she cares about my safety, which gives me a strange feeling of satisfaction and contentment I’ve never felt before. I text her back quickly before I go inside.
Me: No, I just got here. Going in now.
Kelsea: Don’t be a bitch.
I laugh out loud at her quick response. I swear this woman is just asking for me to paint her perfect ass red for taunting me this way.
Me: Careful, goddess. I have no problem showing you just how much of a man I am.
Kelsea: Promise? *wink*
God, this woman. For a while now, I’ve known that everything I feel for her isn’t casual or temporary. I don’t know why I haven’t told her that. I’d blame it on not finding the right time, but that’s bullshit.
Kelsea: Don’t be nervous, honey. He’s your best friend. You are not a burden, Ev. He needs to know.
I know she’s right. I allow her encouragement to give me the push I need to get out of the truck and go inside. Eli stands at the counter, looking over the online appointment schedule. He’s only been back to work for a few days, and even now he’s only carrying a light load. But I don’t mind picking up the slack. My sister and their children are more important right now.
“Hey, man. How’s my favorite baby daddy?” I ask, slapping him on the shoulder and pulling him into a hug.
“Fucking exhausted. But happier than I’ve even been.” His eyes shine with pride. “The kids are amazing, don’t get me wrong. But so is sleep,” he chuckles.
“I don’t think sleep and newborns really go together. I mean, I don’t have much experience in the field, but I think it’s par for the course.” His lack of sleep is not something I envy. I’d be dead on my feet if I was in his place.
“Yeah, but your sister is incredible. She’s been so patient with them and with me. I don’t know what I did to deserve a woman like her.” He stares off into space, love for his wife written all over his face.
“Yeah, I don’t know what you did, either. God knows your ugly mug didn’t convince her,” I joke, and he rolls his eyes.
“What’s so important that I needed to leave my family to come bask in your presence, asshole?” He leansback against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest.
I take a deep breath, running through the details in my head so I can tell him the facts. I look around the waiting room, making sure the shop is empty.
“I have a problem,” I mumble. “Breaker told me Justin’s dad put a fucking contract on my head.”
His eyes widen in surprise, his muscles tensing at the mention of my sister’s ex. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“He said his dad is a congressman. Apparently, he used his political connections to find his way onto the dark web. He put out a contract for somebody to take me out. I’m assuming this is an ‘eye for an eye’ situation. Breaker said he tried reaching out to some local gangs and none of them were willing to help him, so he went global. My life is currently worth about 1.5 mil, evidently.” I lean my hip onto the counter, letting him absorb everything I’ve just told him.
“Fuck, Ev. This is insane. A fucking hit? His son was a piece of shit! Even he knew that. He’d been covering up his mistakes for years.” He runs his hands through his hair.
