She pointed to it in the corner. “Wasn’t sure if you’d use it or not, but just in case. And we’ve got plenty of babies around here if you find you’re needin’ somethin’ else you hadn’t thought of.”
“Thank you,” I told her, growing more and more comfortable with each word. This, this was what everyone else felt when they went home. This sense of belonging and safety and camaraderie. It had been longer than I could remember since I’d felt it, and I found myself swallowing against a lump in my throat.
“Here, sweetheart,” my mom said, setting the diaper bag on the bed. I hadn’t even realized that she’d been carrying it the whole time. “You two get comfortable while Ei shows me where your dad and I are staying. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, again,” I told Eileen as they moved to the door.
“It’s good to see you again, lovey,” she replied warmly.
As soon as the door was shut and I was alone in the room, I let out a sigh that felt like it came from the deepest parts of my chest. Finally, I could breathe again.
“I know it’s been a long day,” I said to Olive as I laid her down on the bed. “But at least tonight, we have some space to spread out and get some rest. First, though, I need to find a bathroom.”
She definitely wasn’t going anywhere, but I still put pillows on each side of her before grabbing my supplies and heading back into the hallway. The clubhouse was shaped differently than the one back home, but the logistics of the building were basically the same, and it was easy to find a bathroom. I smiled as I closed myself inside and inhaled the scent of cleaner. Eileen hadn’t been joking when she’d said they prepared for our visit. The bathroom looked like it hadn’t even been used since they’d cleaned it from top to bottom. I hurried through the motions and looked longingly at the shower before heading back to our room. The thought of a long shower where I could shave my legs and let the hot water soothe my muscles sounded like heaven.
“Hey,” Mark said, startling me as I entered the room. He was sitting at the foot of the bed, his feet on the ground and his shoulders drooping. “How you doin’?”
“Tired,” I replied honestly. “A little relieved. How’s your shoulder?”
“Fine,” he replied, brushing off the question. “A couple stitches. Hurts like a bitch, but I heal quick.” He was quiet for a minute. “It’s amazing, huh?” he mused, leaning forward on one elbow, the other resting on his thigh. “Doesn’t matter how long you’re gone, moment you step foot back on Aces’ ground, it’s like you never left.”
“You noticed it, too?” I asked as I put down my purse.
“Hard to miss. Gotta say, I never really thought I looked like my pop, but apparently, I do.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise. “You definitely look like him. It’s the mouth.”
“This damn mouth,” he grumbled, making me laugh.
“Hey,” I said, pushing his shoulder. “I like your mouth.”
“You do, huh?”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop fishing.”
“You’re more relaxed here,” he said quietly, reaching out to grab my hips. “I can see the difference already.”
“I’m—” I paused to try and find the words. “I’m relieved. We made it. And inside these walls, it feels like we’re safe.”
“You are safe.”
“For now, yeah. For tonight. After that—” I shrugged. “It’ll all still be there in the morning, like a tidal wave waiting to drown us.”
“Nobody’s drownin’.”
“Not yet.”
“Not at all.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”
“Until you bail again,” I replied, the words out of my mouth before I could stop them. Both of us froze.
“Deserved that,” he said, his voice low as he dropped his hands from my hips.
“I still shouldn’t have said it,” I backpedalled. Jesus, he’d gone all commando and saved me and I was bringing up ancient history. “You’ve gone beyond what anyone would expect from—”
“Don’t start that shit,” he cut me off, rising to his feet.
“Don’t start what?”
“Don’t make this some altruistic—”
“Well, your vocabulary has definitely improved—”
“Goddamn it, Cecilia,” he snarled. “Jesus Christ. I’ve been in love with you since we were kids. You know, you know I would’ve come for you no matter what, no matter where, no matter the circumstances.”
“Let’s not pretend that has ever been the case,” I shot back.
“I was twenty fucking years old!”
“So was I!” I yelled, my hands