Page 55 of Max

“No, baby.”

“Max?” she called.

“Right here, honey,” I whispered.

“My last thought was one of you,” she admitted.

God, she was killing me.

“Open your eyes, baby,” I urged.

She shook her head.

“Baby, open your eyes and look at me.”

She did, and silent tears started sliding down her cheeks.

“I thought I lost you,” her lips wobbled.

“Never, I vowed.”

Take me home,” she pleaded.

I brought her up to her feet. As we walked by a dead Irene and Kiki who was being read her rights, I turned her head into my chest, I didn’t want her to see any of it. This was now done for her. She was free.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I kissed the top of her head.

After we were done in the E.R., I put a sleepy Skylar in my truck, got behind the wheel, and turned the key. Then, I took my woman home.

Epilogue

Max

Three months later

"I told you those two were hooking up," Joe said.

"Actually, you thought we already did when you said it," I corrected him.

"Fine. But I expect the invitation to the wedding."

Skylar shifted beside me, and I gave Joe a look to shut him up.

It didn't work.

He spread his arms wide, turned around in a circle, and declared, "Let it be known, I called it first."

"He's just teasing, baby," I whispered into Skylar's ear, hoping to make her more at ease.

She was nervous as hell when I said I invited the team to a barbecue. After the shooting, I got her the hell out of there, so she didn’t have a chance to meet them. After, they gave us space. But it was all over now. They wanted to meet her. She asked a million questions of what each of them liked, what was their preferred drink choice, snacks, and whatnot. She wanted their seal of approval. I would be lying if I said it felt good. Her knowing how much they meant to me. But she shouldn't have worried. She had it the moment I said her name in the squad room.

"Skylar, honey?" I called.

When she still remained leaned to the side, her eyes looking at something.

"Leave me be, boy. I'm old, not an invalid," someone was giving Broad hell.