Page 122 of Chasing Shelter

“Some other big-brother overreaction,” Arden offered. “I know all about those.” She gave Cope a long look as if to make her point.

“Hey, what did I do?” he groused.

“Tried to be all mad that you found Linc shirtless at her house,” Sutton reminded him.

Cope shuddered. “Don’t remind me.”

Linc leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I just want you to have the lifeyouwant. I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay in Sparrow Falls because of me.”

“She’s staying because of me, obviously,” Fallon chimed. “I’m excellent bestie material.”

“I heard that,” Rhodes called. “I thought I was your bestie.”

“I can have more than one,” she yelled back.

My mouth kicked up into a smile. “I don’t know what forever looks like, but right now, I’m happy. I’m good. And I’m standing on my own two feet. That feels better than good.”

The truth was, I couldn’t imagine leaving Sparrow Falls. The patchwork family the Colsons had created was the most beautiful piece of art I’d ever seen, and I loved being even a single thread in its fabric. But more, I couldn’t imagine walking away from Trace. His quiet strength, the way he kept me rooted in exactly who I was, the care he poured into the world around him…

A woman who had to be the principal began yelling for the teachers to get everyone ready, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced around but didn’t see Trace anywhere. That wasn’t like him. He was always on time—if not early.

“What’s wrong?” Fal asked.

“I don’t see Trace,” I said, still looking around. Nora and Lollistood with Anson and Rhodes while Cope’s crew, Fallon, Shep, and Thea were by me. But there was no sign of Trace anywhere.

Fallon frowned. “Kye isn’t here either. He can be notoriously late, but not for something of Keely’s.”

“There.” I caught sight of the two men making their way through the crowd of parents and other onlookers, but neither looked especially happy. The set of Trace’s jaw had my anxiety ratcheting up another few degrees.

They stopped to greet Nora and Lolli first, Cope, Sutton, and Luca making their way over to say hello. I didn’t take my eyes off Trace. He smiled and chatted, but there was something beneath the surface. A darkness gathering.

Finally, he made his way over to the rest of us. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it wasn’t for Trace to pull me to him. He didn’t kiss me or make some huge show, but when he tugged me against him, I felt his entire body vibrating.

“What happened?” I whispered.

Trace opened his mouth, and I could see some sort of non-answer forming.

“Chief,” I warned.

He knew that tone. I couldn’t take lies. There’d been too many in my life. So, instead, he gave me one word.

“Jasper.”

I muttered a curse.

“That’s gonna get you the swear jar,” Trace chastised, his mouth attempting to form a smile but failing.

I looked up into those dark green eyes. “What can I do?”

He stared down at me for a long moment. “Just needed to feel you with me.”

Everything in me softened. I slipped my hand under Trace’s jacket so I could untuck his uniform shirt and the white tee beneath. Then I moved so my palm was pressed against his back, giving him skin-to-skin contact, telling him without words that I was there and wasn’t going anywhere.

Trace let out a shuddering breath and dropped his forehead to mine. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me for this.”

“You always know what I need. How is that?”

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