Page 61 of Almost Ours
Shane held his gaze for a beat longer, then squeezed his shoulder before stepping back.
Then I felt him.
Ryan.
At my side.
I looked up at him, my chest tightening, my throat burning.
There were no words for what he had done today. For what he had given me.
But he understood.
He nodded, just slightly, his eyes soft and steady as if reading the storm in mine. Before I could even think, he pulled me in–tucking me into his side, wrapping his arm around me like he could shield me from the weight of it all.
He pressed a lingering kiss to the top of my head, his lips warm and grounding against my skin.
“I’ve got you, Harper,” he murmured, his voice low, rough with the same raw emotion that had gripped me all night.
I closed my eyes, breathing him in, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek, the warmth of his arm around me–solid, unwavering.
And for the first time since this nightmare began–I let myself believe it was over.
I let myself believe we were safe.
It was justthe two of us.
The TV hummed softly in the background, credits rolling on some animated movie we weren’t really watching. Connor had tried to fight sleep, insisting he wasn’t tired, but within minutes, his head had dropped against my shoulder, his breathing slow and even.
I should sleep.
I wouldn’t.
I couldn’t.
My eyes never left his chest. Watching. Counting. The steady rise and fall. Making sure.
I smoothed my fingers through his curls, damp from the sweat of too many blankets, but I didn’t dare move them.
I reached for my phone, glancing at the screen and seeing a text from Ryan.
Ryan: How’s our little fighter?
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Harper: Asleep. I’m watching him breathe like a total weirdo.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Ryan: A hot weirdo.
A surprise laugh slipped out before I could stop it. I clamped a hand over my mouth, glancing at Connor. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
I looked back at my phone, rereading Ryan’s message, warmth blooming in my chest.
I hesitated.
Then, before I could overthink it, I slid out of the bed as carefully as I could, tucking the blankets around Connor. He barely moved. His lips parted slightly in sleep.
