Page 14 of Cupid's Arrow

“That’ll be all.”

I can only stare at the officer who’s spent the past hour questioning me, Corinne, Ben, and the witness who placed the 911 call. “That’s it? You’re not—”

“The story you told lines up with the footage,” he says with a shrug. “He came here looking for trouble, and he got it. We sent him to the hospital to get checked out, and if you want to press charges, that’s up to you.”

Ben shakes his head. “I don’t think we will. Thank you for your help.” Corinne’s mouth opens in surprise, but it snaps shut when he shoots her a look.

I’m wrung out after the events of the day, but not so tired I can’t catch her when she jumps at me and flings her arms around my neck. “I was so scared for you.”

“For me?” I wind my arms around her back and squeeze tight, remembering those tense, terrible moments. “You were the one in danger.”

“I knew you’d save me.” She pulls her head back, her eyes filled with tears—and love, so much love I forget how to breathe. I could drown in it.

Ben doesn’t seem to notice or else doesn’t think much of it. He’s too busy locking the front door, then heading back to my room. “It’s gonna take a lot of cleanup. That prick.”

I can’t help the flash of guilt as I join him. Blood stains the floor and is spattered on the wall. Broken glass is scattered everywhere. “I’m only sorry the room got busted up. But I’ll handle putting it back together.”

I glance his way to find him standing behind the table where I was working when Corinne came in. “What is this?” He picks up the drawing of his sister, his brows drawn together.

“Oh. Just something I was fucking around with. No big deal.” Somebody should tell that to the adrenaline flooding my system again. I need this like I need a hole in the head.

“It’s good.” He lifts his gaze, locking onto me. “Really good.”

“Thanks. I’m still a little rusty and wanted to dust off the cobwebs or whatever.”

He turns his attention to Corinne when she enters carrying a broom and dustpan. “I can at least help with the glass.” I watch as his gaze bounces back and forth between me, the picture, and Corinne. The wheels are turning in his head.Oh, fuck.

“Is there something going on with you two?” He’s talking to both of us but, big surprise, staring daggers at me. I was always going to be the one he blamed when he found out. It was only a matter of time.

Corinne goes pale. “I…”

He ignores her in favor of raising his brows at me. “Is there?”

After drawing a deep breath, I nod. There’s no point in making excuses, not anymore. Not after I got a glimpse earlier of a life without her in it. Seeing the woman you love crying and begging for help tends to put things in perspective.

“There always has been,” I admit, and Corinne gasps. “Nothing happened between us until I was released, but I’ve been in love with your sister for a long time. I stayed away from her because she was too young, and out of respect for you.”

“And I’ve been in love with Arrow for as long as I can remember,” she admits in a soft whisper. She abandons the broom in favor of taking my hand, staring up at me, smiling softly. “He’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’m sorry if it makes things awkward, but I can’t pretend I don’t love him.”

“Well, shit.” He scrubs a hand over his head and blows out a heavy sigh. “What, were you hiding it from me? Afraid to tell me?”

“Yeah,” she retorts. “I figured you’d lose your shit.”

He only snorts, shaking his head. “Like I don’t want you two to be happy? If this is what you want, I’m not going to stand in your way. You deserve each other. You deserve to be happy.”

Corinne clutches my hand tighter, beaming, but I can’t quite match that level of excitement. There’s still something between us she doesn’t know about. It wasn’t Ben’s opinion I was most concerned with.

“And you deserve the truth,” he continues in a heavy voice.

“No. Don’t,” I urge. “Don’t do this.”

“Do what?” She’s too busy brimming over with joy to understand.

He holds up a hand in my direction, shaking his head again when I try to stop him. “Corinne, there’s something you don’t know. I wasn’t going to tell you, but that’s because I was too much of a coward to admit what I did. And Arrow didn’t want you to think the worst about me.”

She deflates a little, and some of the light fades from her eyes. “What did you do?”

He squares his shoulders and lifts his chin like he’s up in front of a firing squad. “It was my idea to steal that car. Arrow didn’t do it alone, but he took the fall, so there’d still be somebody to take care of you.”

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