Epilogue

Later that night, Tyler heard sounds in the kitchen and rose from where he’d decided to sleep on the floor in Chicklet’s room. His shoulders, his ass, and his thighs were sore, but he was still feeling a bit high from the scene and the sex hours earlier, so he didn’t have too much trouble moving. Sleeping arrangements were going to have to be worked out though. He’d been a gentleman and let Laura sleep on the bed between Chicklet and Raif, but he wasn’t going to get enough rest for the game tomorrow if he stayed here.

If he’d guessed right and Laura was up, he’d convince her to come to his room to snuggle. He went to the kitchen and grinned when he saw her sitting at the table with a mug of warm milk and a stack of peanut butter cookies.

“Hungry?” He stole one of the cookies and dropped into the chair beside her. Hissed out a breath as the welts on his ass and thighs throbbed.

Laura smirked at him and took another bite from the cookie in her hand. “A little, but I was mostly hoping you’d get up like you always do and sit with me for a bit. You were spacey when we left the club, so we didn’t get a chance to talk.”

She didn’t look mad, so hopefully this was the good kind of conversation. He motioned with his cookie for her to go ahead.

Taking a sip of milk, Laura’s gaze shifted to his shoulder. She set down her mug and took a deep breath. “Why the tattoo, Tyler? That’s even more extreme than taking ten lashes for me. What if things hadn’t worked out?”

He lowered his gaze and shrugged. “I considered that before even getting the tattoo. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. Or years from now.” He licked a few crumbs from his lips, wondering if she’d think he was crazy. But he met her eyes because they’d promised each other the truth going forward. “I’ll always love you, Laura. Even if we weren’t together, I’d think about you every time I heard about a cop getting hurt on the job. I’ll always wonder if this will be the day you don’t come home, whether it’s to me and Chicklet and Raif, or to Chicklet alone, or to someone else. This was my crazy way to keep you safe. Might not be good for anything, but if there’s any chance it gives you that little bit of extra protection, then it’s a good thing.”

Laura smiled and reached out to take his hand. “You amaze me. I really don’t deserve you.”

“Probably not. You didn’t even shop around for the best deal when you tried to get rid of me.” He grinned when she let out a small, exasperated growl. He didn’t mind talking, but no way would he let things get all serious. “I mean, look at me! You could have started a bidding war or something—become a very rich woman.”

“Damn it, Tyler, it’s not like I sold you to Raif.” She punched his unmarked shoulder, laughing when he grabbed it and bent over, playing like he was in terrible pain. “You want truth from me? I love that you make me smile and laugh, but it bothers me when you do that.”

Looked like the nagging was about to start. But he wouldn’t complain. He’d asked her to tell him when he messed up. “Do what?”

“Joke or change the subject when someone tries to have a discussion with you. I’m willing to bet you haven’t explained the situation with your mother to either Chicklet or Raif.”

His jaw hardened and he shifted his gaze toward the fridge, to the hall, trying to find anything to get Laura off that subject. After the week he’d had, the last thing he wanted to dredge up was “the situation” with his mother. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

“You’re doing it again. She left a message the other day, you know. She broke her engagement because she can’t go through with marrying Jules without you by her side. And she doesn’t think you’re ready to be there.”

“And it’s really awesome that you listened to my message. Thanks.” Fuck this. Tyler pushed away from the table. Maybe sleeping alone in his own bed wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Is this how we’re starting fresh, Tyler?” Laura’s voice was soft, and she hadn’t moved to follow him, but the house was quiet and the words resonated with the impact of a shout. He hesitated in the doorway as she continued. “Why does the idea of your mother getting married again bother you so much?”

He fisted his hands by his sides and turned. “The last few husbands, hell, all the boyfriends she’s had, have abused her in some way. I kinda liked seeing her becoming stronger all on her own, visiting her and not seeing bruises and black eyes. Talking to her on the phone and not hearing her sound so lifeless.”

“Why didn’t I know about any of this? Damn it, I always saw you as a spoiled momma’s boy.”

The edges of his lips twitched. “You weren’t wrong; I am a momma’s boy. And yes, I know, I’m joking and I should give you details and cry and let you see how much the shit from my childhood still hurts me sometimes.” He shook his head and approached the table, desperate to get rid of the ache in his chest that bringing up the past always gave him. “I don’t want to do that right now. I’ll try, Laura, I swear I will, but you can’t expect everything all at once.”

“I don’t. This was good, though. I feel like I’m getting to know you all over again.” She held out a cookie. “Here. Sweets always cheer you up. And you can change the subject if you want.”

“You already know me pretty well.” He took the cookie, stuffed it into his mouth, and held out his hand. “Come to bed with me. I’ve decided I want you there after all.”

“Can I bring the cookies?” She let him pull her to her feet, grabbing the remaining cookies when he nodded. “Do you still want to watch a movie?”

Flicking on the light in his room, he glanced at the pathetic pile of DVDs he still had and shook his head. The night had gone well, and he wasn’t going to keep bringing up what they’d both suffered to get past, but every time he turned around there was a reminder. “I forgot I broke them all.”

“Oh, Tyler.” Laura wrapped her arms around him from behind, obviously being careful of the welts, and pressed her lips to his shoulder. “We’ll replace them. And I know there are a few of the newer movies you don’t have. We can—”

“No, I don’t want to replace them.” He felt her go still behind him and drew her in front of him so she could see his face and understand that he wasn’t upset. “We’ll find new favorites. Tell me what movies you love. I don’t care if they’re sappy romances or old black and white movies. Let’s find something that can be ours.”

She wet her lips and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “We’ve found that Tyler. And I have a better idea. Hold me tonight the way you always did after I woke up from nightmares. There are still so many things we had that are worth keeping, and I don’t want to forget them.”

“Is that what woke you up, Laura? A nightmare?” He rubbed her arms, searching her eyes for the shadows that usually lingered for hours when her dreams reflected the horror she faced in real life.

Lowering her gaze, she shook her head. “I woke up and thought that you were gone. Once I saw you weren’t, I just couldn’t get back to sleep.”

“Come here.” He slid onto the bed, holding up the blanket so she could climb under the covers with him. She used his chest as a pillow and brought one hand up to toy sleepily with his curls while he bent his arm and rubbed the back of her neck.

This was so comforting, familiar, almost as if nothing had changed. Her skin was a little cool to the touch, but she warmed up as he covered her with the blanket and held her close. He breathed in the sweet scent of her, which always made him think of honey and flowers. The way she fit against him was the same, as though she belonged right there. Only her fears were different tonight, not terrible things that had happened that he couldn’t erase.

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m here, Laura. At first I thought maybe you were right to want me out of your life. I’ve been there before, and I had to accept that what I thought I had would never last. But with you, with Chicklet, and now with Raif, there’s a place for me.” He could tell she was ready to drift off to sleep. The small smile on her lips made him sure this time she’d have pleasant dreams. He closed his eyes, whispering one last thing he hoped she’d always remember. “I swear to you, Laura. No matter what you do, I’m not going anywhere.”