Page 125 of Lose You Twice

His mouth curves. “Not because I don’t want to.”

“Good clarification.”

“Because I know this job matters to you.”

The warmth in my chest shifts into something achy.

I look down at my keys. “Yeah.”

“And you should get to have it without worrying about me making it harder.”

“You did hear the part where Coleson already thinks⁠—”

“Coleson is an asshole, and his opinion is horse shit.”

“True.”

“And he’s wrong.”

“Also true.”

Kai steps even closer then, leaving just inches between us. “I can want you and still respect what you need.”

My breath catches.

There are lines that sound dramatic because someone wants them to. Then there are lines that land hard because they’re simple and true.

This is the second kind.

I look up at him. “That sounds suspiciously mature, Mercer.”

“I’m experimenting.”

“Careful. It might stick.”

He grins again, humor dancing in his eyes. “I doubt it.”

God, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.

A moment passes, then another.

I should get in the car, but my body doesn't seem to get the memo.

Kai’s eyes search mine. “Do you want me to follow you home?”

My instinct is still to refuse. It rises to the surface quickly, because needing things from Kai is a door I have kept locked for years.

But I’m tired. My body hurts. The thought of the check-engine light flickering on halfway home makes my stomach knot.

“You don’t have to,” I say.

“I know.”

“Fine,” I say. “You can follow. But if you make one comment about my driving, I’ll switch out your socks for Weston’s.”

His mouth twitches. “Fair.”

I unlock the car, then pause with my hand on the door.