“Sorry about that.” I brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I forgot my charger and my phone died almost right after I sent you the text.”
“I’ll admit I was a little worried…”
I cupped her face with my hands. “Sorry I worried you.”
I hated that I did, and I knew she meant not only worriedaboutme, but also if I’d be here. After her shitty ex, trusting probably didn’t come easy. But I would spend the rest of my life making sure she never had to doubt me, and making sure she forgot all about that asshole.
“But I knew if you were able to come, you’d be here.”
“There was no way I wasn’t going to be here.” I looked around, nervous that I had in fact missed her speech. “Please tell me I’m not too late.”
She shook her head. “No. They just started seating everyone.” With a wave of her hand, she gestured toward the open doors that led into a room set up with fancy, decorated tables.
“Perfect.” I lifted my elbow toward her. “Ready?”
She threaded her arm through mine and lifted on her tiptoes, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. “I love you.”
I grabbed the back of her head, holding her close and staring into her eyes. “I love you, too, baby.”
She melted into me as I brushed my lips against hers. A moment later, she rested her head against my arm and we made our way inside with the crowd.
“How’s your brother doing?” She asked, glancing up at me.
“Not great. He’s a wreck.” I flinched, not wanting to put a damper on the evening. “But I’m hopeful they’ll be able to work it out.”
“I hope so.”
We took our seats and made introductions with the rest of the couples at the table. She was the only one from her graduating class and, from what I could tell, the youngest one who had been invited to come speak.
Pride bloomed in my chest for this smart, amazing woman who had stolen my heart one fake date at a time. I never thought I’d be grateful for having to pull someone out of a fire, but I couldn’t be happier about how it ended for both of us.
Chapter Forty-One
VIOLET
In the almost threeweeks since that day in the grocery store when I felt someone watching me, there had been no more sightings of the figure in the green hoodie. The case had stalled again, but the beginning of October was coming up, which made me nervous.
Would there be another fire?
I hadn’t felt watched or followed again, which was disappointing. For me, anyway. I knew Seth didn’t feel the same. We’d been together pretty much whenever neither of us were at work. I’d started thinking he should just get rid of his cabin and move in with me. It made the most sense since he was renting,and I owned mine. But I also wouldn’t be opposed to us buying something up on the mountain together either. I definitely would miss watching him chop wood.
He placed his arm around me. “My mom adores you.”
I smiled and raised a brow. “Did you think she wouldn’t?”
“No, I knew she would.”
We sat side by side, watching his niece playing in the yard with his brother and sister-in-law.
I nodded toward them. “I’m glad they decided to go to counseling and try to make it work.”
Seth sighed. “Me too.”
He’d been worried about his brother that first week after Shelby had left him, and it was like a weight lifted from his shoulders when Mason called and told him they were going to keep trying.
He shifted closer, his lips grazing my ear. “Got you something.”
“You did?” I cocked a brow. It couldn’t be another plant. He’d just given me another one last week.
