Page 129 of This Time Around
I jumped and his hands went to my ass, one foot going back a step as he caught me.“Holy shit.Are you okay?”
“I’m good.Safe.Not hurt.Just everything else.”
“No fucking shit.Your house—”
“I know.”I shoved my head into the crook of his neck.“But you’re here.I was so worried.”
He laughed, pressed his lips to my hair.“Worried about me?I’ve been scared to death about you since I couldn’t get a hold of anyone.Called Max, flew to Lincoln, drove here.All fucking night.”
“What?Lincoln?As in Nebraska?But that’s four hours away.”
“Three and forty-one minutes.”
“You came for me.”Adrenaline and emotion crashed together and I hugged him tighter.“You came for me.”
“Always.”His arms squeezed me tight and he started walking, carrying me like a young child and he didn’t give the first fuck.“I’ll always come for you.This is some serious fucked up shit.Scared out of my brain as soon as I hit Kansas.There’s shit down all over the place.Roads closed.Towns destroyed.I almost had to stop and throw up more than once, Rebecca.You have no idea how terrified I was.”
“I’m safe.”
“Thank fucking Christ.”
He stopped where Jordan and I had been.“Hey.”
I assumed it was to Jordan.I was correct when Jordan slapped his shoulder, walking past us.“Glad you’re here, man.Good to see you.”
It was probably time to stop clinging to Cooper like a starfish.I unwound my limbs and slid down his body, cupping his cheeks as my feet hit the ground.“You’re really here.”
I was grinning like an idiot.
He looked as handsome as ever.“Always,” he repeated.“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“And…before I puke at the cuteness of you two, I’m going to head out.”
I rolled my eyes at my brother.“Thank you.For everything.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.”He snagged the back of my head with his hand and yanked me to him, giving me a brotherly kiss on the top of my head.“I’ll come back later, but I need to see to the resort now that you’re not here alone.”
I hugged him again.He clasped hands with Cooper.
Then, once he climbed into his car, Cooper and I turned back to where my house stood yesterday.“What the hell do we do now?”he asked.
