Under the Stars

It comforts me to hear him say the words. It’s something I never had before, something I always longed for. “Molly, on the other hand, is going to be more difficult to convince.”

Straightening, he turns me to face him. “What did she say?”

“We’re meeting this young guy, Joshua. He’s introducing us to a girl who supposedly works for Gavin.”

“Okay?” Confusion lines his brow.

“She’s a prostitute.” That changes his expression, and I step out of his arms, going to my closet. “Molly’s convinced Gavin is doing the same thing here he did in New Orleans, and she wants to expose him.”

“Good,” he says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “She can expose him, and I can have him arrested. We need fresh evidence. Everything in New Orleans is either burned or hearsay.”

Scooping up my underwear, I carry my jeans and a fresh blouse into the bathroom, calling softly. “I’m not sure arresting him is what Molly has in mind.”

He steps to the door, watching as I dress. The smile on his lips heats my insides, and I wish I didn’t have to leave.

“I want to go with you,” he says.

Slipping my shirt over my head, I touch his chest, rising on my toes to kiss his lips. “If it’s just Joshua and Candi, we’re okay to go alone.”

We exit the bathroom, and he goes to the dresser where the large, flatscreen television sits silent and dark. “Unblock my number.”

The tone in his voice stops me. It’s laced with remnant anger, and I almost wonder if we’ve gone all the way back to the beginning.

“Hand it to me,” I say. He stretches it out, and I take it with trembling fingers, touching the face quickly and finding his name. “I only did it because it hurt too much to see…”

My voice breaks off, and he holds my forearms. “Never do it again.”

Lifting my chin, my eyes are serious when they meet his. “I’ll never do it again.”

“Here,” he reaches out, and I hand him my phone again. “I’m going to turn on your tracker, connect your phone with mine so I know where you are. If anything feels wrong, text me, and I’ll be there. Jilly will be safe here with Roland.”

Nodding, I rise on my toes to kiss his lips once more. “I will.”

Taking my clutch, I go to the door and pause, looking back. He’s standing, watching me, with our baby sleeping peacefully on the bed.

It’s everything I want in the world, right here in this room.

7

I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.

Mark

The moment Lara steps out the door, I turn on my phone, switching over to the app and watching the green dot as she leaves the building. I hate letting them go alone,

but I don’t want her pushing me out again. I want her to know she can trust me to trust her.

So I have to let her do this.

I can’t follow her like the overprotective lover I am.

My stomach cramps, and I step to the bed where our little daughter sleeps. Her soft lashes lightly touch her rosy cheeks, and her brown hair bends in tiny curls around her ears.

I pick up my phone again and see the dot has moved deeper into Capitol Hill. Opening the messenger app, I text Roland.

Come watch Jilly while I get my shit out of your room.

When we checked in, he got me a key, but I wasn’t sure if Lara would welcome me or push me away. I was angry and defensive, and so desperate to see her. Our reunion went differently, much better than I expected.