Page 112 of Let the Light Shine Through

That streak of red he wore at the funeral caught my eye and refused to let go. He refused to let go.

Roz is so protective of me from everyone and everything, has been since he put his jacket on me that cold March day. Just like a Cardinal, he’d hurt himself before he ever hurt me.

And the food. He’s never not trying to feed me.

“What makes you say that?” I ask carefully.

“Because you are.”

Reaching down, he lifts me by the backs of my thighs, and I automatically wrap my legs around his waist, hooking my feet behind his back before he walks us toward the house, forgetting all about the four-wheelers and the audience next to them.

Gia

By the time we get my Raptor unloaded and Roz walks me to my front door, it’s close to midnight. We spent the morning in bed—a real one—then met up with everybody after a relaxed lunch of grapes and spray cheese and crackers on the deck. So fancy.

The rest of the afternoon was full of riding, swimming, and general fucking off. I even let Roz take a turn on my Raptor, too, which wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be watching someone else ride my four-wheeler. There’s something about putting your trust in someone worthy that makes the small stuff seem inconsequential.

He insisted on taking me out for a real dinner, so we stopped off at a little diner on our way home. We even sat on the same side of the booth and everything. All that was missing was a bowl of mile-long spaghetti.

It was all very normal. But strange. I feel like I’m in an alternate universe, and I’m just watching myself right now.

“Come stay with me.”

Roz peppers kisses along my neck, the light above my front door casting shadows over half of his face.

“Damn boy, don’t you want some time alone?” I laugh.

“I’ve been alone for months…it’s overrated.”

“Okay…go chill with one of those roommates of yours.”

“I wanna chill with you.” The sharp ridges of his teeth scrape my skin, making me curse. “Only you.”

“I need to sleep and shower and stuff.” Emphasis on the stuff part.

“All things you can do at my place.”

“Roz.”

Sly fingers venture up my shirt, grazing the bottom of my boobs.

“Roz.”

His lips spread against my collarbone before he finally looks up, his eyes dilated and crazed. “Sorry. Were you saying something?”

I can only shake my head. Does he even realize where we are?

“Seriously though, thanks for the last couple days.”

“It was a shitshow, Roz.”

“A fucking wreck,” he agrees, nodding.

“But it was…”

“Amazing.”

“I was gonna say fun.”