Page 87 of The Square

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN - CHRISTINE

We belong to him.

Those words repeat over and over in my head a million times as Danny takes my hand and walks me across the suite toward the master bedroom.

Ten minutes ago, I’d have argued with him over that statement. Because even though I was hopeful we’d all find our way back to each other, I was overflowing with doubts.

I saw no way in which Alec and I got past our mutual betrayal. I saw sex, sure. I saw us together. Mostly because it’s a habit now. We are Alec, Christine, and Danny. The team. I saw us doing more jobs. Killing more people. Perhaps we’d even find a way to have fun again.

I never, ever let myself hope that we’d be something more than that. Not truly. It was just an endless stream of hotel rooms, and yachts, and private-jet trips to exotic places to wait out the heat after we stole something.

But I never thought we’d find something new. Something better.

And now I do.

Maybe?

I bite my lip as Danny opens the door without knocking, feeling unusually nervous.

We find the whole room filled with steam. Hot, misty air that swirls around my chilled body and then parts as Danny and I enter holding hands.

I look up at him.

He shoots me a smile that says so much.

Things like, Don’t worry. I’ve got this. And, We’ll be fine. Better than fine.

And because if there’s one person on this planet I trust, it’s Danny… I believe him.

Alec is standing under a rainfall of water in the glass-enclosed shower, his body blurry through the semi-opaque steam. But I can tell he’s looking upward, letting the water rush over his face like he needs a good cleansing.

Danny taps on the glass and Alec steps out from under the water and wipes the glass clean.

I smile at him. Because he’s clean-shaven. The way I know him. The old version of Alec. It makes him look young. Like the boy we met way back when.

God. We’ve made several lifetimes of memories in the span of ten years, haven’t we?

And while all of those years were filled with good and bad things—killing, and stealing, and wondering if we were gonna make it through the day—even the dangerous times were good.

We were happy together, I realize. It’s only when we split apart that things went bad.

So I make a decision right then and say, “Hi.” Like we’re meeting again for the first time. Because maybe we are.

And Danny says, “Hey, dude. Better.” Indicating his lack of facial hair.

“Thanks,” Alec says.

After which comes a moment of hesitation as Alec wipes at the glass again so he can see us.

He looks at me. My naked body. And wipes the glass a third time so he can see more.

And I realize it’s up to me now. Danny has done all he can do and it’s my turn.

So I say, “Can we come in?”

I think Alec was holding his breath because it rushes out, audible even over the sound of the water falling behind him. He pushes on the door, opens it, and extends his invitation.

Danny has already dropped his leather jacket on the floor and is dragging his t-shirt up over his head. For a brief moment I wonder if I should undress him the way he did me.