Page 104 of Let Me In

But his eyes—God, his eyes.

Shadowed and fierce, like he hasn’t blinked since I called. Something is shining in them, too—like relief wrapped in ache. Like the sight of me is both a wound and its balm.

Like he’s been holding his breath since I hung up.

I step off the porch.

The bag shifts on my shoulder.

Cleo stays close to my ankle. Luca trots ahead, ears perked, making a low whine in his throat that melts something in me.

Cal doesn’t say a word.

He doesn’t have to. W

hen I reach him, I stop.

Just for for a second, because then—he reaches. One hand on the strap of my bag, easing it off my shoulder without a word. The other brushes my arm, then slides down, catches my hand, warm and steady.

He looks down at me like I’m something holy. Like I’m small and breakable and his. Like he’s not just seeing me—he’s sheltering me, with his eyes alone.

And says, just barely above a whisper—

“You did it.”

My chest breaks open.

He lifts our joined hands. Presses a kiss to my knuckles.

And then, still holding me—

He opens the passenger door.

Guides me up.

And this time?

I don’t look back.

The door shuts with a soft,certain click.

Not loud.

Not final.

Just… done.

I sit there for a second, shivering even though the truck cab is heated, barely breathing.

The seat beneath me still warm from the engine. The scent of him in the cab—cedar, leather, something darker beneath it that I don’t know how to name yet, only that it’s his.

Luca jumps up behind me, tail sweeping across the seat. Cleo curls into my side, pressed close against the door.

Cal opens his door on the other side and climbs in. But before he starts the truck, before he even reaches for the gearshift—he turns to me.

Doesn’t say a word.

Just reaches across and pulls the seatbelt across my chest, clicking it into place with care.

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