Page 135 of Revival

“Jim has an uncle out in North Dakota. He said his uncle would help me find a place to live and give me a job as long as I left immediately after graduation.” Spencer’s voice is thick with regret. “I couldn’t be the thing that stood in your way, Sutt. He was going to use me to ensure you’d fail.”

“Why’d you do that for me, Spencer?” Sutton’s voice is gruff. “I never asked you to do that for me!”

“You didn’t have to! Just like you didn’t have to step up when Dad left. And all the times you bailed me out of trouble. It felt like the least I could do to make everyone happy.”

“Yeah, everyone but yourself. You gave up your entire life.” Sutton’s eyes find mine. “You gave up your girl.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing. But it didn’t matter. He said if I didn’t go, he’d make me disappear himself.”

“No, the right thing would have been coming to me.”

“What were you going to do? You’re only a few years older than me. You’d just started your training. It was my word against his. Jim wasn’t going to stop until he ruined all of our lives. I made it so he could only ruin mine.”

I swallow hard. “And mine,” I croak.

“Kitten…” Spencer pulls me into his chest and holds me tight. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, I know. It’s okay.” I reach up and clutch his cheeks. “You did what you thought you had to do. I’m sorry I didn’t know. I was so angry with you, but I didn’t know.”

He strokes my hair back from my face, touching his lips to my forehead. “You were right to be angry with me. It was the only way I knew I could let you go. If you hated me, it meant I had no reason to return. You were safe. My brothers were safe.”

Our audience melts away as I drag his mouth to mine.

“I love you so much, Spencer Stone.”

“Fucking hell,” he murmurs between desperate kisses. “Say it again, please.”

“I love you.”

The air leaves my lungs as he yanks me flush against him.

“I love you too, Cortney. So damn much.”

A throat clearing brings us back to the sidewalk.

“As sweet as this touching reunion is, we still have to talk about Perry,” Silas says.

Spencer looks around the group. “What’s there to be done?”

Sutton rubs the back of his neck. “You can lodge a complaint. Hate to say it, but it might be a little too late for that. He’s retiring next month. And you know how small towns are, always protecting their own. I can’t say much will come of it.”

“Until then, we watch your back,” Silas adds.

“All of us.” I’m startled by Lee’s serious tone. “Thought you fucked up, Spencer. Now I know you were just looking out for your family. I’d have done the same. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before.”

Spencer runs his hand across my lower back. “Does that mean you’re okay with me dating your sister? Because I have to say, I’m in love with her, and if you don’t approve, you’re going to hurt her a lot more than you’ll hurt me.”

“If you keep her safe and happy, you’ll have no problems from me.”

I look up at the same moment Spencer dips his chin. “We’re on the same page then.”

“Where’s my apology?” I turn to Lee.

He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking contrite. “I’m sorry. You were right. I had no right to get that upset.”

I wave him off. “Apology accepted.”

“Ready to get out of here, Kitten? I believe we have a date to finish.”

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