Page 87 of Some Saviors Can Break You

The house was simple but nicely furnished, but it was a definite bachelor pad. Big screen TV on the wall, multiple gaming consoles, a pool table, pinball machine, and two big black leather couches.

“So I hope you don’t mind, but when I mentioned you were coming for lunch the Blacks wanted to come and see you,” Fletcher said, a hint of apprehension in his tone like he wasn't sure how Florence would react to the news.

Florence froze for a moment, reached out to take his hand, and then smiled. “Yeah, okay, that’s fine. It will be nice to see them. Who’s coming?”

“Everyone. Theo, Abe and Levi, Tatiana and Patrick, Will and Julian, Kevin, the whole gang.”

“Theo was Fletcher’s best friend when they were kids, well they still are,” Florence explained. “Are you barbecuing?” she asked when Fletcher went into the kitchen and picked up a plate piled high with steaks and burgers.

“Of course.”

“But it’s the middle of winter.”

“Doesn’t mean that barbecues don’t taste good,” Fletcher said with a wink. “Let everyone in when they get here.”

Alone in the room, Eli pulled her into his arms. “You good with all the extra guests?”

“Yeah, I guess. I'm glad that Fletcher has them, they’re like his family, the Blacks took him under their wing, looked out for him.”

“But not you?” He couldn’t help but feel a burst of anger that there had been people to look out for Fletcher but no one to be there for Florence.

“It’s okay,” she soothed, running her hands down his arms. “I don’t care anymore. I have you now, and that makes everything better. It’s like it washes away all the bad things that ever happened to me, I know they’re still there, but I can hardly see them anymore because anytime I feel bad about what I went through or I feel sad or unworthy, I just have to remind myself that you want me. Of all the women you could have chosen, you chose me.”

“You make it sound like you’re the one who lucked out in this thing we have, but really, I'm the lucky one,” he told her, framing her face between his hands and kissing her forehead.

“See, you say such sweet things, make me feel so special, I love you so much.”

“Not as much as I love you.” He kissed her again, on the lips this time, and she melted into him. His hand slid up under the back of her sweater, and they probably would have done more than they should have, considering they were in her brother’s house when the doorbell rang.

“Raincheck?”

“Oh yeah.”

7:07 P.M.

“I don’t think you’ve stopped smiling since we got to your brother’s house,” Eli said.

Florence hadn't thought about it, but he was right.

Everything had fallen into place, and she was happy. Completely and utterly happy.

It was nice.

She felt like she had been transported from her old life and put down in the middle of a whole new world. Everything looked brighter, prettier, lovelier, just better. She felt lighter, like the weight she had been carrying around was gone now. She knew it wasn't really gone, it was just that now she wasn't carrying it alone.

Eli was there.

He was at her side, holding her hand—figuratively as well as literally—and helping shoulder her baggage, and what was even better was she could help him carry his as well. They were partners. A team. And it was such a relief to not be alone that she just couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.

“I’m happy,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder as they stood in the lift on their way to his friends’ apartment.

“I love seeing you this happy and relaxed.”

“I think you're going to be seeing a lot of me like this. I have you, things with my brother are better than they’ve ever been, two prolific serial killers are off the streets, what’s not to be grinning about?”

“Can't argue with that.” His arm around her shoulders tugged her closer ,and he touched his lips to her temple in a soft kiss.

The lift opened, and a moment later a door was swung open and a gorgeous guy with dark hair and dark eyes stood there grinning at them. On his hip was an adorable baby with silky black locks, long-lashed eyes, and chubby cheeks, who was gooing and giggling to himself.

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