Page 84 of Love is Blind

I take the matches from him.

“Thank you, brother.”

For everything.

He claps my back and tips his chin the matches.

“Light it up.”

I strike the match and throw it into the hole.

How’s that for color?

~*~

When we arrive back at the clubhouse, Holly, Birdie, Emmy, and Leftie are all sitting around the picnic table.

I rip my helmet off and charge for my girl. Holly helps her to her feet and hands her the cane. Birdie rounds the picnic table and I tag her hand. The cane drops to the floor as she lifts her hand to my face. I cover her hand with mine, watching as her eyes well with tears.

“You’re okay,” she whispers.

“I’m fine, baby.”

I reek of gasoline and I’m covered in blood.

But I’m fucking fine and so is she.

My fingers curl around the back of her neck and I bring her mouth to mine. I kiss her softly, then pull away and stare into those blue-green eyes some more. Earlier when she told me she loved me I didn’t say it back.

I wanted to be sure I made it back to her.

That I’d be able to fulfill a simple promise.

Leftie was right.

A man needs to have faith in something, and from this day forward, I have faith in me.

In Birdie.

In us.

“Love you, babe,” I rasp, giving her neck a squeeze. “So fucking much.”

Then she lights up my world with the most brilliant smile.

So fucking vibrant.

So Birdie.

~*~

Birdie holdsmy hand as Ink makes the final touches on my tattoo.

Another kill, another Casper.

“I’ve always wanted a tattoo,” Birdie says. “I know that sounds ridiculous considering I can’t even see it, but whatever. I think the only reason I never got one is because I’m afraid the tattoo artist will be a jerk and take advantage. I mean can you picture if I went in and asked for a flower and got a giant dick on my forearm. How awkward would that be?”

No I can’t imagine that.

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