Page 121 of Brew
“Maybe we should go back to the apartment?” I suggest.
Erica takes a breath. “I-I wanted to make this nice for when you got back,” she says softly. “And now all we’re going to have is this memory.”
“The memory of your bravery and resilience.” I pique a brow. “That’s what I’ll think of, and you should, too. I should’ve been here. I had no idea that this lunatic was the one watchin’ you.”
“Is Ch-Chains gonna be okay?” Olive asks, her voice wobbly.
I glance at her. “He’s gonna be okay. He’s tough.”
“I never meant for any of this to happen,” Erica starts, but I wave her off.
“None of this is your fault. You couldn’t have predicted it.”
“I know, but Jude was obsessed with Steven, and resented me for it.”
“Which you weren’t to know.”
“Brew’s right,” Olive agrees. “Mom, you need to let go sometimes. People are responsible for their own actions.”
Ain’t that the truth.
“The good news is, she won’t be hurtin’ anyone else in a while,” I mutter.
“I know,” Erica says. “But it’s still a tragedy.”
“Don’t need to think about that now,” I say. “Cops are gonna have to question you. I’ll try to get Willow, but can’t be certain it’ll be her doin’ the questionin’.”
She cups my face with one hand. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“When you say you’re fine, my ass begins to twitch.”
“I’ll take Olive upstairs,” Amber interrupts as Olive stands. “It’s been a big night.”
Erica smiles up at Amber gratefully. “I’ll be up in a second,” she whispers.
“You okay?” I ask Erica when they’re gone. “And don’t say you’re fine.”
She shrugs. “I’m not great, but she shot someone, she came here to kill me, what am I supposed to say to that?”
My eyes soften as my heart races at her touch. “You’re supposed to say you lived through it, and you’re one tough cookie. Oh, and that I’m the one who taught you to shoot.”
She rolls her eyes. “We didn’t do much shooting that day.”
“Really? I recall shootin’ a mighty load inside you if I’m not mistaken?”
Her eyes go wide. “Brew!”
I rub my nose against hers. “You liked it.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“I’m gonna keep shockin’ you with filthy words for the rest of your life, better get used to it.”
This woman is my world. My entirety of being. To think I came so close to losing her tonight makes my anger boil. I didn’t see it coming.
As if reading my mind, she says. “Brew. Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what?”
