Page 63 of Fueled Fury

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Austin

I sit across the kitchen table, staring at Lainey as she’s questioned by a police officer. The thought of me not making it to her in time grips my throat and squeezes all the air from my lungs. Standing from the table, I move to the counter, shuffling around until I find what I’m looking for. I make a single cup of coffee, mixing everything in just how she likes it. It’s stupid, but I don’t know what else to do. I wanted to kill my brother. I had every intention. But I stopped. He’s still alive and that bothers me. I can’t let him near her again. I won’t leave her side.

As I spoon cinnamon into the cup, Jean steps up to the counter with David.

She looks to the coffee then to me as she says, “Thank you for saving her.”

I remember the feeling when I spotted her in the lake, swimming across the damn cove. The details she told police of why she jumped in terrify me. Though I can’t help but think the decision saved her life. It kept Eli away from her. It kept her alive. “She saved herself.”

“Austin,” David says as I look to him, “saving a person doesn’t just happen in one moment.”

“I know. She’s saved me every day of my life.”

“Then I’m glad you have each other,” Jean says. Though her tone is strained, she seems sincere.

“Me too.” I grab the coffee and walk to the table, placing it in front of Lainey as I sit beside her, waiting while she answers questions that I swear she’s already been asked.

Finally, they leave her alone, and she cups the warm coffee in her hands, bringing the cup to her mouth.

Reaching forward, I grab the blanket around her and pull it snug. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“Do what?” she asks, her fingers releasing the coffee and grabbing the blanket to pull it tighter around her.

“Make me think that I’ll have to live without you … because I can’t.”

Her sarcasm is alive and strong, and it’s a relief as she says, “Look who’s fucking talking, Mr. I Disappear from the Face of the Earth.”

My grin ignites her fury as she goes to ream me out again, but I can finally accept what she tried to give me before.

Leaning forward, I cover her mouth with mine, silencing her words as my hand clasps her neck. My tongue slowly, thoroughly kisses her the way I’ve wanted to for so long.

Shifting back, I open my eyes to find hers shut, so I lean forward, tenderly kissing her. She’s allowed me to have all of her trust, every piece of her, and I won’t ever let go.

“I’m sorry I left.” My forehead rests against hers, my guilt overshadowing all else in the moment.

“You were at the finish line,” she says lowly, her eyes looking down to her hands. “That’s all I wanted. To cross the finish line and have you be there waiting. And you didn’t wait, you jumped in for me.” She lets out a soft laugh as her hand grips my shoulder, then she turns serious. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“He wore the mask well. I was scared you wouldn’t believe me. That night at the hospital, I didn’t know that he did it because he found out we were together. I thought he was just trying to get rid of me, so I left, thinking I was protecting you. I wrote that story as fiction—who would’ve guessed that he’d try to turn it into truth. He knew with my history and our parents that I would get the blame easily, and I knew too. I went to my uncle that night and told him what had happened. No one knew about Halo other than Waylon. He wouldn’t tell Eli. The only thing I can figure is Eli got into my laptop or phone. Something. Waylon advised me to stay far away from Eli, and I did it for as long as I could, but I couldn’t stay away from you.”

“How did you know tonight?”

I don’t believe the answer as it comes out of my mouth, but it’s the truth. “My dad.”

Lainey is just as surprised as me.

“My dad called Waylon when he couldn’t get me on the phone. Eli told him what he was going to do, thinking he would go along with it because he hated me so much. But my dad called to warn me. He refused to call the police but told me to stop Eli. He still blames me. Said it was my fault that Eli wanted to hurt you and frame me.”

“Austin, it’s not your fault. None of it.”

Tangling my fingers in her still damp hair, I hold tightly as I pull her to me. “I don’t care who he blames. He saved my life when he gave me the opportunity to save yours.”