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“It’s about time you showed up If you were a no-show by Monday, I was co to find you Welcome home, Bax”

I jerked my head up from her chest to meet her eyes I think she had tears in them, but it was hard to tell with the water and the stea us

“What? Titus and Race both told me you were over it”

She lifted her hands over her head and ran the in et you to pull your head out of your ass I wasin jail for so you didn’t do, but I understood it I understand you, Bax Eventually you’re going to have to accept that”

I took a few steps closer to the shower There ater leaking out onto the floor and h to touch her I didn’t, not yet, but Iin my eyes

“I would never want this for you Me, this life, the messed-up shit that comes with it, but I missed you I care about you and can never repay you for what you did for me You set me free I would die for you”

My voice trailed off and I got a little choked up I reached out a finger, I should’ve been e, and I touched the very center of her scar where it dipped in the crevice of her naked brsts Her chest rose and fell in a heavy breath, but her eyes were steady on mine In fact, she seemed a hundred times steadier than me

“I know you would die for me, Bax” Her voice was just above a whisper and all I wanted to do was pull her to ain “What I need to know is if you are willing to live for erous life, who takes risks and pushes liht I can deal with all of that—hell, it’s part of what makes you so irresistible What I can’t handle, what breaks my heart, is that you live every day like it’s your last, like it doesn’t matter if you don’t make it to the next one It does matter It matters to me, it matters to your brother, it matters to Race—but it has to matter to you, Bax You have to understand that youand took another step closer to her The water was splashing on the sleeve of rab both of her cheeks in my palms

“Are you scared of me?” It was the start of the questions I had asked her what felt like a lifetie, but this ti back a smile that made my heart hurt

“Terrified, but I kind of like it now”

“Do you trust me?” My voice broke I had never really trusted anyone but Race and now there was her andmy life so much more complicated and undeniably fuller

“With my life I trust all the parts of you, Bax You need to know that”