Page 47 of Devlin

“We have access and contacts to be able to find out a lot without going through some of the same channels we had to with the military.”

She stopped and turned her gaze up to him again, but this time, a furrow creased her brow. “Did you ever check on me?”

His breath halted, and his mind raced to think of what to say that might not sound as bad as he was afraid his words would. But he came up empty. “Um… no.”

The instant her expression fell as she started to turn from him, he rushed to explain. “Not because I didn’t think about you, but it would hurt too much. I was… afraid.”

She scoffed. “You? Afraid?”

“Yes, Mia. Afraid.” He heaved a sigh. “Afraid of seeing pictures of you happily married to someone else. Having kids with someone else.”

She lifted a brow. “And whose fault would that have been?”

“Mine,” he said without reservation. “All fuckin’ mine.” He dropped his head back for a moment, then lowered his chin and speared her with his gaze. “I tortured myself into thinking that not knowing was better than knowing.”

She nodded slowly. “Am I asking too many questions?”

Devlin shook his head. “No way, Mia. You can ask anything you want. In fact, I’m glad you’re asking.”

“Why?”

“Because that tells me you’re interested in what I do.”

“Because I am.” She swallowed audibly before adding, “I never looked you up either. I guess for the same reasons as you.”

Another group of women passed by, greeting them with friendly smiles before whispering to one another, giggling as they moved on. The heavy moment was broken.

Mia inhaled quickly, then reached out to touch his arm. The simple touch sent a jolt through him, grounding him to the moment. She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I think we’re giving them some village gossip.”

She started to pull away, but he caught her hand, tucking it into the crook of his arm as they continued walking. The simple, instinctive act felt as natural as breathing.

Bringing the conversation back to where they’d started, he said, “We’re asked to investigate activities or possible crimes. Sometimes we’re hired by individuals and sometimes through government contracts. A lot of times, the lines get blurred between who’s in charge of what.”

“Wow. So you can do your own thing without having to follow too many rules.” She shot him a teasing look before bumping her shoulder lightly against his. “That kinda sounds like the Jim Devlin I remember long ago.”

“Me?” He feigned exaggerated surprise, placing a hand over his chest. “What about you? Tying yourself to the goalpost?”

She threw her head back and laughed, the sound rich and unguarded. “I was just so angry that Principal Martin wouldn't pay attention to the environmental club's requests. He had the temerity to shoo me out of his office. I was not going to let anyone shoo me out of their office!”

“You go, girl.” He smirked. “And remember, if anyone gives you a problem, they have to deal with me first.”

She slowed again, and this time, there was no teasing in her expression. Her laughter faded, replaced by something quieter, more introspective. He felt the shift in the air and sensed something important coming before she spoke.

Mia reached out, taking his hand between both of hers, cradling it against her chest. The heat of her palms seeped into his skin, but it was the emotion in her eyes that truly made his breath catch.

“You will never know how much that single act meant to me.”

His chest tightened. “Oh, my Mia. You’ve thanked me many times while we were together for that.”

She shook her head slowly, her grip tightening around his hand. “Yes, but I was younger. Still in school, then in college. But now that I’ve been out in the world, seen the best and worst in people, that single act stands out in my mind.”

Devlin barely breathed as he stared down at her, struck by the quiet honesty in her words. He had always known Mia was strong, but in moments like this, he realized just how deeply that strength ran.

“To this day, I can still remember looking at the back of you in your larger-than-life football uniform and pads, standing between me and the two policemen and Principal Martin. And you told them they couldn't lay a hand on me without going through you.” Her voice wavered, but she kept going. “And I can still see your name on the back of your jersey. Devlin. I had no idea at that moment what we would become.”

She gave a small shrug, still holding his hand. “And maybe to some, they would hear our story, shake their heads, and ask how on earth could I move past what was a betrayal of the heart.”

His stomach clenched at the reminder of the pain he had caused her. He had no defense for it, no way to erase what had happened. He could only accept it, own it, and hopefully have them move forward together.

---