Tainted Heartbreak (Tainted Knights 3)

The room was too dark for me to see the look in his eyes, but I could tell they were glazed with something intense. “I’m going to miss you so damn much, Dreamer.”

“D-Don’t,” I choked out. “Don’t make me cry. I’m going to miss you too.”

“When you get home, I want you to move in with me.”

The first time he’d asked that question over a month ago, I had turned him down instantly. Now, however, I wasn’t thinking about how I wanted to be independent and stand on my own feet. Make my own way in the world. Right then, all I cared about was being with him every possible minute of the day. Of waking up to his arms around me, his lips in my hair, and his heartbeat under my ear. Fuck, of our toothbrushes touching in the bathroom, as if not even they could bear to be apart.

“Okay,” I told him simply and cuddled back down beside him.

He let out a deep, relieved laugh. “Okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” I laughed, and it sounded so alien I realized it was the first time I’d had cause to laugh since getting the call from Jane nearly two weeks ago. “We can sort it out when I get back.”

“Fuck, I’m just happy you said yes.” He kissed the top of my head, inhaling deeply. “I’ll make room for your clothes in the closet when I get home. It will give me something to do while I’m missing you.”

“Do you think you’ll be done with this thing for your grandmother by Saturday?” I asked drowsily.

I thought I felt him tense, but I was already drifting off to sleep. “Yeah, Dreamer,” he promised in a tired voice. “I’ll make sure it’s finished by the time I get you back.”

--

The next morning, I used Jane’s minivan and took Riley and Cash to the airport. I put on a smile and hugged my best friend tightly in front of the departure lane. “Tell Lin I’m not mad,” I instructed Riley. “She hasn’t texted me much, and I know she’s feeling guilty for not coming.”

Riley grimaced. “Listen, I like Lin. Really, I do. But she has no loyalty. The least she could have done was to be here for the memorial. She’s too caught up in her daddy’s money to care about her best friend.”

I only shook my head. “I understand where she’s coming from. Remember, I grew up with Malcolm, and her dad is just as intense.”

“Fuckers,” she growled

. “Okay, whatever. I’ll tell her.” Giving me another hug, she stepped back. “Come home soon. I miss you already, Mar.”

“I’ll be home Saturday.”

“But get used to missing her,” Cash said, wrapping his arms around me from behind now that his and Riley’s cases were out of the trunk.

My friend narrowed her eyes on him. “What does that mean?”

I looked at Cash over my shoulder, shaking my head at him. Now that he had gotten the answer he wanted, he was making sure I didn’t back out. “I haven’t told her yet.”

“Tell me what?” she demanded, then gasped like she was in pain. “Mar, are you moving out?”

“Yes,” Cash answered for me before I could open my mouth. “But you’re always welcome at our place, Riley.”

“You’re going to leave me alone with Lin?” she cried.

“You two are friends too, Riles,” I reminded her.

“Okay, listen, because I think you have your wires crossed. Lin and me? We tolerate each other for your sake. We’re not besties, and we sure as fuck have nothing in common. She looks down her nose at me, Mar.”

I knew she was right and would admit I had turned a blind eye to the fact that my two best friends often did nothing but bitch at each other. But my moving in with Cash shouldn’t cause problems with them continuing to be roommates. “I’m sorry, Riles. Really, I am…”

“But?” she asked, her voice thick with annoyance.

“But you’ll find a new roommate, and…”

“And you and the douchebag rocker are in love and can’t bear to be apart. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Whatever. I’ll get over it. Eventually.” She glared at Cash over my shoulder. “But don’t be surprised when I start sleeping on your couch.”

“You are welcome anytime,” he repeated with a laugh. Turning me in his arms, he effortlessly shut down any further arguments.