He turns and leaves. I swallow bile as he does, and quickly slide the bolt to secure the door.
What the hell was that about?
23
Jared
The movie was good, but Nia was quiet on the walk to the theater and while we were inside. I know there’s not much opportunity to chat while watching a movie, but she was quieter than usual in a way I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong? Say the wrong thing? Is she having second thoughts about this?
My mind is a whirl of motion that I can’t control and my panic is starting to get the better of me.
As we head out of the theater back toward the car, I finally find the courage to voice my concerns.
“Is everything okay?” I ask her, not sure I want to hear the answer if it’s not.
“What? Yes, everything’s fine.”
I arch a brow at her. “You’ve been a little out of sorts all night. Did I do something?”
This is a possibility. I’m not always the easiest guy, I know this, but her quietness has me on edge.
“Oh, Jared, no. You didn’t do anything at all. I’m just… I’m sorry. My mind has been elsewhere tonight.”
“Is it something I can help with?”
She frowns then sighs. “I had a weird customer before I locked up. I guess I’m just a little on edge because the guy did nothing wrong, but I can’t shake him out of my mind.”
Instantly, I go on alert. She was broken into, it wasn’t Thomas, and some guy is giving her the creeps? It might be nothing, but it might be something. Either way, my spider-senses are tingling.
“What guy? What did he say?”
The look she gives me has me reining back my sharpness.
“Sorry,” I tell her. “It’s just it could be important. Tell me everything.”
“There’s not much to tell. I’m probably just overreacting.”
“Maybe, but I’ve learned over the years to trust my gut. That kept me alive in the Army and it’s kept me safe and breathing since I became a civilian again. If something tingled for you, it’s worth investigating—especially considering the situation you’re in.”
Her frown deepens and I hate that it does. I would take all her fear, all her pain from her if I could.
“He came in to look for decorations. I don’t know,” she waves a hand. “It was probably something of nothing, but he did creep me out a little. He’s probably a really nice guy.”
Or he’s someone to worry about…
I keep this to myself. I don’t want to scare her. “Stay at mine tonight.”
“I have the security system, Jared. I’ll be okay at home.”
“Then I’ll stay with you.”
“What about Coop?”
Fuck. I tear a hand through my hair. “I don’t want you alone while this shit is going on, Nia.”
“You said the security system was the best on the market, right?”
I nod and she runs a hand up my arm. “So, I’ll be fine.”
I want to agree with her, but I have a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach—not a pleasant one either. “Nia—”
“Stop worrying. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
I want to push it, but I sense she’s just going to keep pushing back, so I drop it—for now. I would prefer her with me, so I can keep an eye on things, but I can’t force her back to my place.
“I was thinking we could take Cooper to the zoo over the weekend,” she says, breaking me from my thoughts. “If you want to.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
She beams and I want to see that smile on her face as often as possible. I forget my worries, forget everything but her. I dip my head and brush my lips over hers.
“Thank you.”
Her eyes crawl over my face as she asks, “For what?”
“For giving me a chance to find happiness again. I didn’t think it would be possible.”
A smile creeps across her face. “You’ve done the same for me.”
I run my fingers over her tight curls. “You’re important to me, Nia. This is why I don’t want to take any chances with your safety.”
She sighs. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll stay over.”
Relief fills me. I kiss her forehead. “Thank you.”
Slipping my hand in hers, we continue across the parking lot to the car. I open her door for her and wait for her to climb in, then move to my own door and get in.
“I need to stop by the apartment to pick up some things,” she tells me.
“We can do that.”
I drive the short distance to her place and while I probably should stay in the car, I follow her upstairs. Her apartment is nicely decorated, and feminine. She has decorations and picture frames everywhere of people who are clearly important to her.
“That’s my granddad and my cousin, Simone,” she tells me when she sees me peering up at a framed photograph on the wall. I recognize her cousin from our meeting. “My gramps practically raised me and Simone, in fact.”
“Your parents were absent?”
“My dad died when I was seven and my mom had a tough job raising me and my brother alone. Gramps stepped up a lot to help out. He died last year.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It was tough. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him.”
“Understandable.”
“You seem close to your mom, but I haven’t heard you mention your dad.”
“They’re divorced. He lives by my sister in Florida. He calls regularly, but I don’t see much of him. He’s not a good flier and I don’t get down to him as much as I’d like. My mom is my rock, though. I don’t know what I’d do without her—or Robyn’s parents too. They have Cooper when I need them to or if I just need a break. Raising a kid is hard.”
“I can imagine. I watched my mom struggle for years. You’re lucky to have such a good support system.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“I’m ready.” She holds up a small bag.
I offer her my hand, which she takes and we head back down to the car. During the drive back to my place, I keep my palm on her upper thigh, soaking in the warmth from her.
I feel a sense of relief that I can’t explain when we get to the house. I grab her bag in one hand and intertwine my fingers through hers with the other. I don’t want to let her go. I don’t know why, but I need to feel close to her.
As we enter the house, I move to the alarm box and disable it, then I drop her bag by the edge of the couch.
“Do you want a drink? Something to eat?”
“Water will be fine,” she tells me.
I grab a bottle from the fridge and hand it to her. “I’ll take the couch again.”
Her nose wrinkles. “No, you won’t. We’ll share the bed.”
“You’re sure?”
She runs her fingers over my jaw. “I’m sure.”
I kiss her, letting my depth of feeling bleed through that gesture. “You make me feel calm, still,” I tell her as I press my forehead to hers.