She nods, then yawns. “I do. It’s taken a long time to really believe it, but I’m never going to settle for less, not after what he put me through.”
“I hate that he put his hands on you.”
“It’s like you said;in the past. I just wanted to share it with you because when you said you’re broken, you’re not alone. Something broke in me, too. I have fractured pieces that don’t quite fit, and that saddens me the most. What if I don’t get it back?”
“You will. It takes time to heal. They tried to break us fully, but they didn’t succeed,” I say. “It’s like I get it now. I’m here for a purpose: to stop them — to stop anyone from sufferin’, and that’s what gets me through.”
“You do bad stuff to bad people, just like my cousins, don’t you?”
“Yes, sometimes.”
“They deserve it.”
“Yes, they do, and I’m not gonna lie about any of that. Not gonna fill you in on the details either, but this burden comes at a price. That price is freedom for others.”
There’s silence for a long time. “You’re the bravest person I know,” she whispers.
I chuckle. “Nah, I’m kinda boring.”
“You are far from boring, Saw. You’re the sweetest, truly. And I am kinda smug that you chose me to do all this stuff with.”
“I wanted to do more,” I admit. “For the first time in a long, long time, I feel safe and at ease.”
“You’re always safe with me,” she says, echoing my words. “You don’t have to do or say anything, please don’t think I expect it now we’ve gotten to third base.”
I kiss the back of her head. “Go to sleep.”
“Bossy.”
“Or maybe you talk in your sleep too?”
“I do not!” she chastises.
“Uh, huh.”
“This is nice, though,” she adds, snuggling back against me. “Just being like this. It’s like nobody can get us here. We’re in our own little bubble.”
Maybe that’s why I like it so much, because it is our own little bubble. It’s a shame I have to leave it in the morning, but I try not to let that sour my mood.
“I like the bubble,” I whisper. “I also like you doin’ that thing you did.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Oh, my god, you’re never gonna look at me in the same light again.”
“I’m the one who came in his pants, I’m never gonna live that down.”
“It’ll be our little secret.” She yawns again. “Nobody has to know.”
Her breathing lulls, and when I know she’s asleep, I close my eyes. “I love you,” I say. “I really fuckin’ love you, Princess. Nobody is gonna touch what’s mine ever again. That I can promise.”
I mean every word as I fall asleep to the rhythm of her heartbeat.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Nova
“You look glowy,” Manny says, almost accusatory, as we shop for party outfits for the weekend. We’re waiting for Payden to arrive because she got held up at work and I ended up getting a ride with Luna instead. It turned into a late afternoon lunch kinda thing. Luna and Lace tagged along, and a couple of the other girls said they may make it if they could.