Page 59 of Never Going to Care

Celeste looks over her shoulder at him and grins. “Better than good.” She glances at me and winks. “We’re in love and we’re moving in together.”

Landon gasps in shock and I can’t help but laugh, the sound filling up the stairwell. Celeste’s giggles join me and warm my heart.

“All you need to do now is to propose,” Blaze’s voice is monotone, but I know there is a hidden depth there.

He approves and he’s happy for me. For us. It’s subtle, but everything about the man is subtle as fuck when it comes to emotions.

“It won’t be long.” Celeste whips her head around and looks at me after I lay the words out there like they’re no big deal. I look at her and grin. “What? You can’t be surprised. You’re mine and you’re it for me, Starlight.”

She looks a little dazed as we walk down the last of the steps and she starts nodding slowly as if processing my words. “Okay,” she whispers.

I know it’s not a yes to my proposal, but it might as well be. It makes my heart beat against the inside of my chest. I want to pick her up and carry her away from here so I can claim her again, so I can ensure she really is okay. That she’s alive.

The need stays with me the entire time we’re talking to the police. They separate us so we don’t influence each other, but I’m not worried about it. The only thing I am worried about is being separated from her.

As I’m talking to an officer, I look up to where another is interviewing my woman and Blaze is standing at her shoulder. When he meets my eyes, he gives me a chin lift in recognition. He has her back and won’t let anything happen to her.

Gratefulness fills me. He hides behind a mask more than I ever did. I wonder when a woman will come along and rip it all away from him along with the foundation of his pain. I know, if she’s meant to deal with him, she’s going to be a force.

I can’t fucking wait.

It feels like my skin is too fucking tight for my body with the need to get back to my woman by the time I’m done. I have to promise to go to the station when they call so I can sign my statement. I’m more than willing considering I want to make sure Joe faces charges.

He deserves it.

Who knows how dangerous his obsession could have gotten. Getting fired was his trigger, but if it hadn’t been that then he would have still been in the office with Celeste and the thought turns my stomach. He’s sick and he needs help. I know it, but, considering my woman was the one in danger, I find it difficult to drum up a lot of compassion for him.

When I’m done, I look over at Celeste to find her shaking the officer’s hand. Blaze is giving the man a death glare, not liking another man’s hands on my woman. I almost laugh at the way the officer keeps looking at him with concerned glances. He should probably be concerned.

I stride toward my woman, meeting Blaze’s eyes and giving him a nod of thanks. I think I see the corner of his mouth twitch in an almost smirk, but it’s there and gone so fast I can’t be sure.

When I reach my woman, she turns and looks up at me with a small, sweet smile on her face. I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my chest. The way she tucks her head against me and nuzzles my chest has my heartrate slowing down.

I didn’t even realize how worked up I was from being away from her.

She calms me. She grounds me. She gives me reason.

I run my fingers through her hair and kiss the top of her head. “Are you ready to go? Do we need to go upstairs and grab anything?”

She shakes her head and props her chin on my chest. “I don’t need anything from upstairs today. Maybe tomorrow we can come back and start packing?” There’s a twinkle in her eye. “I just want to go home and get clean and be in your arms. It’s what I need.”

I tuck some of her hair behind her ear. “I’ll always give you what you need,” I vow.

“I know,” she sasses me, and I chuckle under my breath.

Fucking adorable.

My eyebrows furrow together. “Tomorrow? Aren’t you working tomorrow?”

“Nope,” she pops the p. “I already called my boss and told them I wouldn’t be in tomorrow. I’m taking a personal day. I’ll catch them up on the reason why since the company will need to know what happened, but it can wait.”

Landon clamps his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze, coming out of nowhere. “You have the day off tomorrow as well. Take care of your woman.” When I look over at him, he glances between us and grins. “We’re so happy for you two.” He looks at Celeste and winks, “Welcome to the family.”

She laughs and retorts, “I thought I was already part of the family because of Piper.”

“True enough.”

A worried look crosses Celeste’s face and she clings to me a little tighter. She asks Landon, “Will you tell her I’m okay?”

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