Page 281 of Hide and Keep

“I knew he would be letting you go soon,” I say carefully.

“Why didn’t you tell me the job wasn’t for three years?”

“I tried.” I told him what I could.

“Not hard enough.”

“I’m sorry,” is all I can offer.

Crue dips his head in a slow nod.

“I was blindsided and I panicked,” I confess. “I thought we had another day together.”

“Is that why you were on the cliff?”

Somewhat.

“I was on the cliff because…” How do I tell him without telling him? “The path that’s mapped out for me is not the one I’d choose for myself.” My eyes fill with tears I didn’t know my body could conjure after crying for what feels like hours. “It’s not the one I’d choose for my worst enemy.”

“Is running Munreaux Motorcycles really that bad?”

“It is if your soul is in the sky,” I half-joke, salty tears spraying off my lips when I laugh.

“Your soul’s in the sky, butterfly, but your body’s not.” His hand at my face slides down to my chest, my heart, the one he tamed into total submission. “Your heart’s not. And they won’t be as long as I’m here to keep you grounded.”

“How are you going to do that?”

He nods toward the house. “Well, first, I’m going to take you inside, to my room where we’ll fall asleep in each other’s arms, mostly because we want to but also because we have to. My bed is much smaller than you’re used to. Hope that’s okay.”

“It’s more than okay.” I would snuggle with Crue whether we were on a container ship or a two-by-four.

“All right. Let’s start there.”

After he gets the car door for me, we approach the dimly lit house, my body filling with warmth.

Before Crue opens the front door, he pauses to say, “You might want to plug your nose.”

“Your house doesn’t stink, Major. Not like salt marshes or like dog. It smells nice.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure. I was just being a bitch.”

Silently, Crue bobs his head, then opens the door and waves me through first. Nobody’s around while he gives me a quiet tour of the quaint house. There’s no formal dining room, no office, no theater, no gym, and yet, there’s still so much to explore. The walls and shelves are full of photos and knickknacks, all of them providing a visual history of Crue and his parents.

“Where’s your dog?” I ask in a hushed voice.

“Zeus? He’s probably sleeping in my parents’ room.”

“They don’t mind?” My parents didn’t allow pets, but if they did, they would never let that slide.

“They don’t really have a say. He sleeps where he wants, sometimes even in my room.”

“You don’t care?”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m a pushover for those I love.”

That makes me smile. “I noticed.”

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