Page 34 of They Are Mine

I love how easy this is.

How much he already leans into me.

I sip my drink, watching the way he watches me. He made it perfect. Because he pays attention to what I like. “I was just at the gym.”

His lips curve. “Yeah?”

I nod, slow, like it’s just a casual detail. Not something I specifically made sure he knew.

“Didn’t overdo it, did you?” he teases, eyes soft with something sweeter.

I shake my head. “Just enough.”

Enough to have a reason to be out. Enough to get another eyeful of the beast with weights.

I linger, slowly nursing my drink at a back table, watching him work as I read through emails. His emails. There’s nothing exciting, it’s mostly junk. Something from his sister, I delete that.

Then, as his shift nears its end, I shove my phone in my bag, and flick my gaze up to his. “You heading home soon?” I ask.

He nods. “Yeah, about fifteen minutes.”

I smile. “Want some company?”

Noah doesn’t even hesitate. “Yeah,” he says, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

And just like that?

I’m exactly where I need to be.

With him when his world falls apart.

So I can be the one to piece him back together.

Chapter Six

Juliet

“I’ll follow you,” I say as Noah pulls off his apron.

Because, of course, I don’t know where he lives.

I shouldn’t.

I can’t.

So I follow behind his car, watching him through his rear windshield, calm, waiting.

My fingers drum against the steering wheel, heartbeat steady.

He has no idea.

No idea that his entire life is about to be shattered.

And I’ll be the one to pick up the pieces.

I pull into the parking lot beside him, cutting the engine as he does.

He glances at me, smiling so sweetly, so unsuspecting.

---