Page 51 of No Perfect Love

He smiles at me. A real smile, not just a grin or a brief flash of excitement, but a smile. One that I thought a month ago I’d never see again.

“For believing in Ciara enough to save my life.”

I have to get out of the car. I can’t fall apart in front of him. As soon as I manage to scratch the door handle enough to get out and get my seat belt unbuckled, I’m gasping for air. The tears streaming down my face won’t stop. My chest aches, and my heart feels like it is breaking over and over again with every beat.

In the back of my mind, I hear the other door open, and then Lucas is there, holding my hand in his.

“I had to tell you,” he whispers. “I know it hurts you to see what happened. To watch it. But you saved me. I know you did.”

Then the little boy that had entered my class at the beginning of the year turns into a man in front of my eyes. The pain he wears like a badge of honor transforms him. He’d gone through more than hell and he’s come out the other side of it. He’s done it in such a short amount of time. I know, without a doubt, that he idolizes Carter. He watches his interactions. That he uses Carter as an example of the man he wants to be.

It is there, sitting in the driveway of the farm I’ve loved my entire life, with a boy that Carter has helped me save, that I realize I have fallen in love with Carter.

“Let’s go get that pizza, Miss James.” Lucas claps his hands together and offers me a hand up. “I don’t like cold pizza. It turns the pineapple to snot.”

I wipe my tears and face on my sleeve, nodding. “Yep. Let’s go, man.”

When we walk into Birch Police Department with all six boxes of pizza that we ordered, it is to immediately see Carter in the bullpen, his legs crossed as he talks with Remy about something.

“Looks like you’ve got company.” The dispatcher buzzes us back, but not before I hand her a box of pizza as thanks. “And she brought dinner.”

“Damn, babe.” Carter pushes out of his chair. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Lucas snorts at my side. “You’re kidding, right?”

Watching him interact with Carter, the way a child would his own father, tugs at my heartstrings even more.

“Let’s eat.” Chief Townsend appears from his office with a scowl. “I don’t want to go home to baked chicken and veggies again, and that’s all I’ll get from my wife.” He rubs his stomach. “She’s on a health-food kick again.”

Laughing, Lucas hands him a box, and I hand the rest to Carter. While they get plates and napkins, I steal his chair and roll over to Remy’s side.

Remy doesn’t look up from his phone, scowling the entire time.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?”

“Parker’s got a date,” Linc offers from his desk across the room. “Lover Boy over here is trying to spy on her.”

“Ha.” I laugh. “You’re an idiot. If you like her, you should ask her out. Be a man about it. Like Carter.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Carter appears at my side with a plate. “Either that or let her steal your truck.”

Glaring at him, I take the plate he offers and eat the pizza with a growl. “Technically, it was your brother’s truck.”

Everyone in the bullpen laughs at that, including Lucas, who’s heard the story multiple times.

“Hey.” Carter kisses my forehead when we are leaving a little while later. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” I wink. “I’ll be asleep when you get back, so don’t wake me up.”

Carter rolls his eyes but nods all the same. “I wouldn’t dare.”

He will, however, pick me up and carry me to bed. Which he does almost every single night. Not that I am ever going to complain about it.

And when I hold Lucas in my arms as he falls asleep on the couch later, I can’t help but feel like my life is absolutely perfect.

“Miss James?” Lucas’ soft, sleep-filled voice breaks the peaceful calm of the night.

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

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