Page 212 of Ride the Sky

I push off the island, reaching her side in three strides.

When our gazes lock, I instantly relax.

I breathe.

She’s okay.

Fallon smiles. “Hi.”

“Hey.” I pull her tighter against me, and the ache in my chest subsides.

She thins her lips. “Ugh, Dakota’s taking mother-henning to new levels.”

Dakota’s dark head pops up from the oven. “I heard that.”

“C’mon.” I take her hand. “Let’s sneak away while we can.”

With that, we push out the back door onto the deck. A soft sunrise steals over the mountains.

“Christ, they’re actual lunatics.” Fallon shudders, stealing a glance over her shoulder. The brisk wind whips her caramel hair. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re having a sleepover.”

I grin. “I think we’re stuck with them.”

Her face softens. “They’re not so bad.” On a sigh, she rests her head on my chest.

I close my eyes and pull her closer. “Trouble,” I rasp, holding her tight.

Her. Here. In my arms. There’s nothing better.

We stand there, holding each other, the world going on around us. This matters. Nothing else.

“Wyatt?” She lifts her face, turning those beautiful hazel eyes on me. “Are you okay?”

We haven’t been alone since they found us, so there’s been no time to talk about the nightmare that happened.

I drop my forehead to hers. “I will be.”

My answer’s honest. I’m still full of so much rage I don’t know where it will all go.

All I know is it’ll take a hell of a long time to erase the image of Tripp’s hands wrapped around Fallon’s throat.

Her mouth moves around the words, then she says, “What I said to Tripp, you know I didn’t—”

“I do.” I capture her tattooed fingers and bring them to my lips. “I hate that you had to do what you did.”

My heart had nearly bottomed out watching that.

It’s her turn to growl. “He had it coming.” Then she sobers, lacing her fingers through mine. “I heard that fortune teller telling me to swing, and I did.” Her lashes flutter, resting against the tan of her cheek. “I had to do it, Wyatt. I had to.”

I get what she means. Traumatic as it was, her fight with Tripp healed something in Fallon. Like she was fighting Aiden, Tripp, and herself all in one night.

I run a hand through her silky hair, grasp the back of her neck, and stare into her eyes. “You fought, baby.”

Fallon puts a hand on my cheek. “For you, I’d kill him a thousand times over.” Her gaze suddenly becomes silver. “I told you, I wouldn’t leave you again. I meant that.”

The fight, the love, in her eyes makes my throat tighten.

Fuck, I love her. Every damn day for the rest of my life.

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