8. We’re All a Little Cracked

8 WE’RE ALL A LITTLE CRACKED

Keaton

Her succulent lips were like a beacon, lighting my way home through a tumultuous storm. The moment they touched mine, all thoughts of serial killers disintegrated; replaced with a pulsating desire for the woman in front of me. She’d meant to distract me, to pull me out of my head. Well…mission accomplished.

My tongue swept across her plump bottom lip and she opened without hesitation. Her taste exploded on my tongue; hints of mint from her toothpaste lingered but the rest was all her. Sweet and warm. My Little Bird .

Snaking my arms around her middle, I rolled to my back, bringing her body to rest on top of mine. She fit me perfectly and I wasn’t simply talking about physically. Her willingness to go toe to toe with me showed how well we matched as a whole. I was looking for someone who wasn’t afraid to put me in my place, and she’d done it spectacularly.

Threading my fingers through the hair on either side of her face, I tilted her head, deepening our kiss. Her moan of pleasure shot straight to my dick, where the happy fucker was already trying to figure out how to get from behind my zipper. She rolled her hips and I was done for.

Flipping our position again, I took her to her back, keeping my body propped up on one side. My lips carved a path from her mouth, down the front of her neck until I reached the valley of her breasts, which were barely contained by the ridiculous excuse for a sports bra.

“What do you want, baby?” She moaned again, thrashing her head to the side as I licked across the swell of each mound. “Do you want me to suck on these gorgeous tits?”

“I want you,” she gasped when I traced a pebbled bud with my middle finger through the thin material.

“What are you saying, Henley? I need the words.” My chest heaved with anticipation. I wanted nothing more than to be inside her, but I’d wait if she wasn’t ready. I’d wait forever if she asked.

“I want all of you, Keaton.” Her shocking green irises held mine in their grasp. “I trust you with my life and I trust you with my body.”

“You’ve got me, baby. I’m yours.”

Her eyes disappeared from sight, rolling back in her head when I pulled down the cup of her bra and latched on to her nipple, sucking it deep into my mouth. She fisted the sheets while I ravished her, chanting my name with every flick of my tongue against the turgid peak. Switching sides, I gave her other breast the same attention while my right hand drifted down her toned abs to the top of the––barely-there––shorts. Hooking a finger under the edge, I slid it around to the side, pulling downward as I went but only managing to expose half of her ass cheek.

Desperate to taste every single inch of her delectable body, I released her tit with a pop, scooting down the mattress on my knees for a better angle. I grabbed both sides of her shorts and she lifted, shimmying her hips from side to side, while I worked the troublesome spandex down her thighs before tossing the offending article of clothing onto the floor. Peering down, I got my first glimpse of heaven. She was well groomed, but not bare, with a little strip of dark hair right above her glistening pussy.

“Goddamn, baby. Is this all for me?” Gathering the wetness between her thighs, I circled her clit with my thumb before pushing my middle finger deep inside her.

“Yes,” she groaned. “Please.”

“Please what? Do you need more?” I added a second finger, moving them in and out, increasing the speed.

“Fuck.”

“We’ll get there in a minute, Little Bird.” Twisting my wrist with every inward motion, I found that illustrious spot; the one which made her breath hitch and her thighs shake, but I wasn’t ready for her to come yet. Not even close.

She started to protest when I took my hand away and shot up from the bed, but quickly rolled to an elbow, watching with rapt attention as I began stripping. Buttons flew in every direction when I ripped my favorite dress shirt apart; having decided it would take too long to remove it the old-fashioned way. She chuckled, then belly laughed when I almost fell over––having forgotten to remove my shoes before attempting to kick off my pants––however, her amusement faded into a gasp when my cock sprung free of my boxers. At six two, I wasn’t a small man…anywhere. She didn’t have to worry though. She’d fit me like a glove.

“Lie back and spread your legs, baby.” Instead of listening, she did the opposite of what I asked, squeezing her thighs together and covering her breasts with her arms. “Do you want to stop? It’s fine if you do. I’d be satisfied with holding you all night.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I want this so much, but I’m gross and sweaty. I should shower first.”

Moving to the bottom of the bed, I reached for her ankles, twisting until she was on her back, then crawled between her legs, using my shoulders to wedge her thighs apart. Her head popped up and she held my stare. “I don’t give a shit about sweat. In fact, after I have a little taste, we’re both going to be dripping with it.”

Leaning down, I licked her from back to front, swirling my tongue around her bundle of nerves before doing it all again. The sounds she made as I devoured her would make a nun blush, yet it only spurred me on. When her thighs tightened around my head, I knew she was close, so I moved up her body and notched the head of my cock at her entrance.

“Fuck. I don’t have a condom.”

“I have an IUD,” she panted below me, “and I haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”

“Me either and I get tested regularly for work. I’m clean. Are you sure?”

“Yes. Hurry.”

The words had barely left her mouth when I slid in, balls deep. We groaned together, though hers sounded a little strained.

“Fucking hell, you’re tight. Am I hurting you?”

“No.” She wrapped her fingers around my shoulders, digging her nails into the muscles. The bite of pain was a welcome relief from the onslaught of emotion slamming into me. “Move, please.”

Palming her ass with one hand, I wrapped the other on the headboard for leverage and drew my hips back slowly, then thrust forward. Over and over, we fell into a rhythm as our bodies became one. The slapping of skin and our combined heavy breaths were the only sounds in the room, apart from the occasional squeak of the old metal bed frame beneath us.

Nothing had ever felt this good, this life-altering, and I realized nothing ever would. Somehow the universe, in all its infinite wisdom, saw fit to place this amazing woman in my path. I didn’t understand the whys or the hows, but then again, it wasn’t my place to question. All I knew was she was mine and I was hers.

I fucked her harder, my spine beginning to tingle at the same time I felt her pussy flutter around my cock. We were teetering on the edge of euphoria, both waiting for the other before taking the leap together. Sliding my hand between us, I pinched her clit, setting off a chain reaction. She arched her back, moaning my name as the orgasm rippled through her, dragging mine right behind.

Dropping to my forearms, I gave her a bit of my weight as I took her mouth in a slow, lingering kiss. I hadn’t been lying. We were both drenched with sweat, which had my thoughts veering toward round two in the shower. Nipping at her bottom lip one final time, I broke our connection, collapsing to the side while keeping one arm draped across her body.

Once my heart rate and breathing were back to normal levels, I lifted my head only to find my Little Bird was out like a light. I’d worn her out. Chuckling to myself, I sat on the edge of the bed, donning my pants—sans boxers— and my ruined shirt, before gently maneuvering her underneath the duvet so she didn’t get cold while I searched out the bathroom. Returning a few minutes later with a warm washcloth, I pulled the blanket back far enough to clean up the mess we’d made between her thighs, then tossed it into a basket sitting next to the dresser.

When I turned to leave the room, her hand shot out to grab my forearm.

“Keaton?”

“Shh, baby.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’m just going to get my bag out of the car. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back.”

“Mkay,” she whispered.

Jogging down the steps, I was surprised to see my team gathered in the living room. Dammit . With everything going on, I’d completely forgotten they were here. Noah couldn’t look me in the eyes, while Koen had an ear-to-ear grin plastered across his smug face.

“Dude,” he started, smiling wider when I held up a hand.

“Don’t,” I warned, but he didn’t listen.

“What? I just wanted to congratulate you on an outstanding performance. Ten outta ten, will recommend.”

“Oh shit,” Lanie muttered as I stalked toward Koen. “Same rules as that diner. No blood in my house.”

We were used to teasing each other mercilessly, but this was way different. He could joke around with me all he wanted about anything under the sun except Henley. She was off-limits.

“He’s just razzing you, man,” Noah chimed in. “We didn’t hear a thing after Lanie cranked up the TV.”

“Jesus. Not helping, Noah,” she said.

Koen had two inches on me, but I had an extra twenty pounds of solid muscle plus more years of experience, which was why he started backpedaling once I was within arm’s reach .

“Whoa, hold up, K.” He skirted around the bean bag couch. “My bad.”

“Christ. I’m not gonna hit you, asswipe.” I smirked, thinking of an even better solution.

“You’re not?” He tilted his head to the side.

“Not right now at least. Fair warning though. You mention one word of this to Henley, all bets are off.”

He sobered. “I’d never do anything to embarrass her.”

“Good, but just to make sure of it, meet me in the gym at eight in the morning.”

“Fuck.”

I smiled. Koen might be good at hand-to-hand combat, but I was better and we all knew it.

“I’ll bring the popcorn,” Lanie chirped.

“You wound me, Lanes.”

“Nah, but I will treat your wounds when K gets finished wiping the floor with you.”

“Enough,” I voiced. “It’s time for you all to leave.”

“I suppose you’re staying?” I raised my eyebrow at her question but otherwise didn’t say a word. “Got it. You’re staying.”

Following Noah and Koen outside, I retrieved the bag of extra clothes I kept in my SUV, grateful we’d thought to switch vehicles before coming over. Taking the stairs two at a time, I opened, then closed the bedroom door quietly behind me. Moving across the room, I quickly stripped, then crawled into the bed behind Henley, who’d turned onto her side. I draped one arm across her belly, the other I slid under her head. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to the sounds of her adorable little snore.

I had no idea what caused me to wake up out of the best sleep I’d had in years—maybe ever. Propping my head in my palm, I studied the beauty snoozing peacefully at my side. Sometime during the night, she’d rolled to her back; her thick brown hair fanning out on the pillow above her like a halo. Even in the dark, I could make out the gentle slope of her nose and the curve of her kissable lips.

From the beginning, I’d felt a connection to her; the pull had been so undeniably strong it sent me into a tailspin until I found her again. She was gorgeous, both inside and out; the perfect complement to my broody ass.

Moving a lock of hair, which had fallen across her face, behind her ear, she shivered a little. Thinking she was cold; I went to pull her against me when I realized there were beads of sweat clinging to her face and chest. The room we were in wasn’t hot, if anything it was on the cooler side.

“Henley,” I called, but she didn’t move. Shaking her shoulder, I tried again, louder this time. “Henley.”

“Wha rung?” Her lashes fluttered, never opening fully and her words were slurred. Checking the pulse at her wrist, panic ensued when I felt how rapid it was beating. Way too fucking fast.

Leaping out of the bed, I dug through my bag, throwing on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before running to the bedroom door. Flinging it open, not giving a fuck that it slammed into the wall, I ran down the hall, hollering out for Lanie as I flew into the bathroom, snagging the familiar black bag I noticed on the counter a few hours earlier. Lanie was coming out of her room when I raced past her.

“What the fuck, K? Do you?—”

“Get some juice,” I demanded. “Henley’s blood sugar dropped. I can’t get her to wake up. ”

“Fuck,” I heard her say, but I was too focused to respond.

Reentering the bedroom, I dropped to my knees at Henley’s side and with trembling hands, opened her kit, recalling the steps she’d taken a few days ago in my kitchen. In less than twenty seconds, I had a number. Fifty-two. From my research, I knew anything under seventy was too low, but I was hopeful we hadn’t reached the point yet where we’d need to call for an ambulance.

Sitting on the side of the bed, I pulled her into my lap, keeping her upright and covering her body as best as I could with the duvet.

“Come on, baby. Wake up for me.” Her eyes were unfocused when they slowly opened and her limbs were shaky and uncoordinated, but at least she was conscious. “That’s it.”

“Here,” Lanie rushed in, handing me the small glass filled with orange juice.

“Can you help hold her head up? I need to get some of this in her.”

“We didn’t eat dinner last night,” she cursed.”

“Huh?”

“We didn’t eat, K. We're used to skipping meals after a shit day, but she can’t do that.”

“No, she can’t, and now we’ll make sure it never happens again. Now help me out here, please.”

Using both hands, she held Henley’s head steady while I brought the glass to her lips.

“Drink, baby.”

The first couple of tries, more of the juice ran down her face than went in her mouth, but then she began swallowing small sips until finally, she finished the entire glass.

“What do we do now?” Lanie asked, taking the cup from my outstretched hand, giving me a damp dish towel she produced from somewhere to wipe the sticky liquid from her face in return.

“Can you make her something to eat? A peanut butter sandwich, maybe?” I remembered the jar I’d seen when I’d carried her belongings into the house. “She’ll come around in a few minutes, but she’s going to need something to keep her sugar up.”

“Yeah, no problem.” She stuttered to a stop at the doorframe and looked back over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, K.”

“Not your fault, Lanie.”

When she was gone, I turned my full attention back to Henley; wanting to get her dressed since the immediate crisis was over. I was relieved to see the dampness on her face from earlier had dried, however she was still too pale for my liking.

Shifting her weight around, I eased her down onto the mattress, then rummaged through my bag at the foot of the bed for an extra T-shirt. It would cover all the necessary parts, even though it was too huge for her small frame. Besides, there was something about seeing her in my clothes which had my inner Neanderthal beating his chest in victory.

Shirt in hand, I moved back to the top of the bed, only to be met with shimmering green eyes.

“Hey, baby.” Sinking down near her hip, I took one hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired. Hungry.” She licked her lips, making me want to do the same. Get your mind out of the gutter, Keaton. Christ.

“Can you sit up a little? I want to get this on you before Lanie gets back.”

Slinging the navy-blue FBI shirt over my shoulder, I reached for her other hand, then helped her into a seated position. The duvet fell, revealing her ample breasts and pert nipples, which I quickly covered by slipping the tee over her head before I ended up embarrassing myself.

“Thank you,” she said while I arranged a few pillows behind her back.

“Knock. Knock.”

Henley

Lanie entered, carrying a tray filled with enough sandwiches and snacks to feed a room full of starving kindergarteners. If I wasn’t already feeling like shit from the aftermath of my illness, watching her step cautiously toward me as if I were a wounded animal would’ve done the trick. The last thing I wanted was for my new roommate and—cross my fingers—friend, to think she had to treat me like I was fragile. It wouldn’t bode well for the future.

“It’s not always like this,” I started. “In fact, there’s only been a handful of times in my life my blood sugar has gone super low. Typically, it’s too high, which is why I take meds.”

Keaton moved to my other side, leaving the space open next to me. She offered me a sandwich, then grabbed one for herself before setting the tray of goodies down on the bedside table and plopping on the bed with a huff. I dug into the food, knowing the protein would help keep my blood sugar up.

“I should’ve made sure you ate after our workout.”

“No. I should’ve made sure I ate. You’re not my keeper, Lanie.” She opened her mouth to argue, but I silenced her with a glare. “The stress of everything, coupled with the added exercise…well, let’s just say I know better, and I’ll do my best not to let it happen again.”

“See that you do.” Her frown twisted into a yawn as she took her last bite. “I’m going back to bed. Do you guys need anything else?”

“Just a promise.” She stood, raising a brow. “Don’t tiptoe around me. There might be a few cracks in my shell, but I won’t break.”

“We’re all a little cracked, Henley. It’s why we spend so much time searching for the one person who holds the glue.”

Her words echoed through my mind long after she left the room. They held such merit, considering the gorgeous man who had been and still was, quite literally, glued to my side.

After eating my weight in peanut butter and drinking a bottle of water, I swung my shaky legs out of the bed with the intent of going to the bathroom to relieve myself. Keaton was at my side in seconds, lifting me into his arms and carrying me down the hall with a grumbled, “Hush,” when I made a lackluster attempt to argue over the fact I could walk on my own. Thankfully, he waited outside while I peed because even though we’d had sex—incredibly hot, amazing sex—I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready for that level of intimacy.

Settled under the covers sometime later with Keaton’s arm draped protectively around my middle, I understood what it meant to truly be at peace. I’d been on a mission, riding the prickly train of life, never stopping long enough to enjoy the ride, until he fell into my path. I felt like I could breathe again, yet my chest was weighed down by the turbulent emotions he evoked whenever he was near. Was I in love with my Special Agent? The answer lay somewhere between quite possibly and hell yes.

“What’s wrong, Little Bird?”

“Why do you call me that?”

Every part of our bodies was touching, from our shoulders to our toes, yet he scooted a fraction closer, tangling our legs together as the arms around me squeezed briefly.

“I made assumptions the first time I saw you which were proved inaccurate. Then the night we officially met; I saw a whole new side of you.”

“By assumptions, you mean when you thought I was a junkie?” I teased.

“Shit,” he sighed. “Who told—never mind. It doesn’t matter. My point is, you shocked the shit outta me when you climbed out of the car with a knife in hand. I thought to myself, ‘look at this beautiful little bird protecting her nest.’ The name just sorta stuck from there.”

“I like it.”

“Good, baby.”

“One more thing,” I said through a yawn. “What’s your tattoo mean?”

“I got it done the day after my father’s conviction was announced. It’s Celtic. The translation is ‘this will not break you.’ It was something Jasper said to me over and over again.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. What about yours?” His fingers lightly grazed the area on my hip.

“They’re my mom’s initials.” I yawned a second time.

“That’s nice, baby. Now, sleep.”

And I did.

“Are you sure she doesn’t mind me crashing your night out?” Jade asked for the third time in as many hours.

“I swear to all things holy; I want to shake you sometimes.”

It had been a week since Keaton saved my life for a second time. Seven glorious days of falling asleep every night in his arms and waking up the same way. We hadn’t had sex again, though there’d been plenty of orgasms—both his and mine—to go around. I was starting to think he hadn’t enjoyed it as much as I had until I overheard a conversation between Noah and Lanie a few days later which explained everything, including why Keaton had a split lip and Koen was sporting a shiner.

They’d overheard us. How embarrassing. Apparently, Koen being Koen, decided to poke the bear, earning himself a go-round in a boxing ring. At first, I was upset with Keaton for not telling me, then I was pissed for another reason altogether. I’d missed out on seeing my man in action. All those muscles rippling and contracting as he threw punch after punch? Dammit! I could only imagine how incredibly hot it was to witness.

“Earth to Henley. Did you hear anything I said?”

“Sorry.” I shook my head, reaching for a tray to get the drinks for the table whose order I was working on.

“You’ve got it bad, girl.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“You may as well have it stamped across your forehead.”

“Crap.”

“If it’s any consolation, he feels the same way.”

“How do you know?”

She threw her head back and laughed. Laughed!

“Mitzy. Come here for a sec,” she called out, swiping a tear from beneath her eye. I have no idea what she found so funny about the situation.

“What’s up, my little gumdrops?” Mitzy sauntered over.

“Who comes in every day at one o’clock sharp when Henley’s working?”

“Oohhh. That would be Special Agent Hot Stuff and his posse.” She wagged her eyebrows.

“And who bought her the fancy new phone in her pocket that chimes no less than a hundred times throughout the day with texts?”

“The same man who has ignored each and every attempt I’ve made to flirt with him all week.” Mitzy angled her head at me. “He’s a loyal one, that Keaton. Only has eyes for you.”

“Jesus, Mitzy.” I dropped my head back on my shoulders. The woman would proposition a priest if she thought he’d break his vow of celibacy.

“That’s how I know,” Jade stated. “More importantly, how do you not?”

I thought about it, then thought about it even more as I continued to serve my customers, at least until I screwed up half a dozen orders so badly Shirley had to pull me off the floor to cut up vegetables for Sal in the kitchen.

Halfway through peeling my first ten pound bag of potatoes, the fancy phone Jade spoke of vibrated in my pocket. After rinsing off my hands, I pulled out the pretty blue iPhone, chuckling at the text.

Lanie: Did you eat today?

It seemed Keaton wasn’t the only one with a protective streak a mile wide.

Me: Sure did.

Lanie: What’d you have?

Me: Food.

Lanie: {rolls eyes} Rude much?

Me: Fine. I had eggs and toast. Satisfied?

Lanie: Yup. Anywho, K wanted me to let you know he won’t be in for lunch. He and Noah are running down a few leads.

Me: Oh, okay. Are we still on for game night?

Lanie: Hell yes! We’re gonna kick their testosterone-filled asses.

Me: LOL

Lanie: Jade is bringing you home, right?

Me: Yes, Mom.

Lanie: I could just tell K to put a tracker on you.

Me: Nobody likes a smart-ass, Lanie.

Lanie: You love me and you know it.

Me: Yeah. I kinda do.

Lanie: Enough mushy stuff. We’ll grab dinner and drinks on the way. TTYL.

Before meeting Keaton and his team, the only impressions I had of FBI agents were what I saw on the TV or in movies; essentially hard-laced, stuffy suits with a take-no-prisoner attitude. Don’t get me wrong. When they were in full-on work mode, they’d scare the grizzly out of a bear. But when they shut it off, they were just like anyone else; with their own issues and insecurities they pushed aside in order to perform at the highest level. And from what I’d seen, these four were the best at what they did, which also meant they were well-versed at hiding their own demons.

Case in point, Special Agent Lanie Biggs. I’ve gotten to know her little by little since moving into the townhouse. She wasn’t exactly an open book when it came to her past, however, I’ve picked up on a few things which made me wonder what the hell her story was. The other night, I heard her on the phone and if she hadn’t told me afterward it was her brother, I would’ve thought she was talking with a complete stranger. There was no hint of familiarity, no trace of sisterly love in her voice. The whole scene was in complete contrast to the woman who’d opened up her home to me without blinking an eye. Afterward, she’d retreated into herself, as if the whole three-minute conversation had stirred up old wounds.

“Are you ready?”

Jade came out of the break room with a baby-blue duffel bag slung over her shoulder. Her brother was having a sleepover at a friend’s house, which was the only way I’d gotten her to agree to join us.

“Yes. Thanks for giving me a ride.”

Old Blue had made the initial trip to the townhouse, but the next day when I went to start her up, nothing happened. As in, no clicks, no sputters…just silence. Keaton offered to have it towed to a local garage for them to run a diagnostic. While the car had sentimental value, it would have been a waste of money for something which was more than likely unfixable. So, he had it towed to Noah’s house instead, saying we could store it there for as long as I wanted. He and Jade had taken turns getting me to and from work each day, which worked out since he said he didn’t want me going anywhere alone.

Her silver Nissan Altima was parked half a block away, down an alley which was sandwiched between two corner buildings. She depressed the button on the key fob to unlock it as we approached the rear, but before I could open the door, a heavy weight slammed into my back, crushing me into the side of the car. My chin bounced off the frame, rattling my teeth and sending a sharp pain up my jaw. I was momentarily stunned, then I fought; twisting and turning, doing everything I could to get free, except nothing worked against the immovable force

The fear clawing at my insides from being pinned intensified when I glanced over the roof of the car to find Jade struggling with two other people who were both wearing all black. One quickly overpowered her, slapping a hand over her mouth when she started to scream.

My head was yanked back by my ponytail into an awkward position as my attacker nuzzled his cheek against mine. When he spoke, I froze.

“Where’s your hot-shot boyfriend now, Henley?”

Chase.

His stale, beer-infused breath wafted under my nose with each word he panted. I would recognize his voice anywhere, considering the bastard played a starring role in my nightmares.

“I told you, you’d pay, didn’t I?” When I remained silent, he gripped my hair harder and boomed, “Didn’t I?”

“Y-yes.”

The grip on my hair released as he spun me around to face him. When I stumbled to a stop, he leaned in. “Yeah. You’re gonna pay.” Grinding his hips against me, I barely held back a gag when I felt his hardness on my belly. “And I’m gonna enjoy making it hurt.”

“Hey! What’s going on down there?” a male voice called out from the end of the alley.

Chase jerked away, flinging his head toward the sound. Using the distraction to my advantage, I balled up my fist and swung with my right hand—just like Lanie had shown me. The punch may not have hit the center of his throat where I intended, but the choking sound he made was satisfying, nonetheless. He recovered quickly, placing a hand in the middle of my chest and shoving me brutally into the doorframe before he and his two goons took off running down the back end of the alley. From the impact, I knew I’d have bruises littering my back; however, those were the least of my worries at the moment.

Keaton was going to kill him.

My hands shook and my heart beat so wildly in my chest that every attempt to drag in a lung full of oxygen was met with resistance. Sagging to my knees, the world spun and blurred into a myriad of shapes and colors as my eyes leaked big fat tears, despite my determination to keep them at bay. A sob tore from my lips at the same time Jade scrambled around the vehicle and took me in her arms, rocking us back and forth.

“Oh my God, Henley. Are you okay? ”

An acidy taste crept up my throat. It could have been the swaying motion, or the remnants of adrenaline coursing through my system. Either way, I turned my head away from Jade and vomited all over the sidewalk. Heavy footfalls thundered down the pavement, stopping mere feet from where my lunch had made a reappearance.

“Are you girls hurt? Do you need me to call the police? An ambulance?” our savior asked.

“No police,” I choked out between heaving breaths.

“Henley,” Jade chided.

“I just want to go home.”

Home.

It wasn’t the safety of the four walls I wanted. It was the man who’d shown me with his words and selfless actions how much I meant to him. The man I’d fallen in love with.

Keaton .

He was my home.

He was my everything.