to leave, but there was a possibility if I didn’t play this right that she would want me to go. “That purse belongs to Saber’s mom.” I had one secret I was obligated to keep, and I didn’t want to add any more to it.
“Oh.” Lotus’s eyes widened. “Saber was with you tonight. I had a lot on my mind and forgot that part. Is she okay?”
“She left my . . . her husband tonight.”
“Graham is controlling and borderline abusive to her.” Lotus’s eyes narrowed. “He treated my friend Storm the way he treats her. He’s awful to his entire family. Trying to force them to conform to his will, he only set himself up to lose all of them in the end.”
“Yes, you’re right,” I said, then cleared my throat.
Lotus was exactly right. Why hadn’t I seen it? Back in the past, I was too young and caught up in my own shit.
“She’s filing for divorce but is staying with Saber and Shield until she gets stuff straightened out.”
“That’s a good place for her to be, with her sons. She loves them. All of them. She always has.” Lotus stared at me a long beat, like she wanted to allow time for her words to sink in. “She just couldn’t always show how she felt because of her husband.”
“Ex-husband.”
“Yeah. She tried for a long time to make it work, but sometimes the best option is leaving, not staying. Sadly, we don’t always heed the warnings up front like we should.” Her expression darkened. “Do you need to drop her purse off before you take me home?”
“No. I’ll get it to her in the morning. I want you squared away tonight. You’re my priority.”
I heard Lotus’s indrawn breath as I swiveled, laid my arm over the back of the bench seat, and backed out. I also felt her gaze on me. It was intense, like she was trying to strip all the layers away to what motivated the man underneath.
I wanted to tell her she was my motivation, but she deserved actions, not just words. From here on out, I would show her in every way I could think of that she was it for me. When I told her the truth, I wanted her to know that I truly meant what I said. That I was here, that I was staying, that I was becoming a better person . . . for her.
There was little vehicular traffic on Newport, and only a few pedestrians on the sidewalks. The weather seemed to be keeping everyone indoors.
At the stoplight at the top of the hill, I turned right onto Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. After a short drive, I took another right on her street, our street.
Fuck, I like the sound of that.
Killing the engine, I got out, jogged around the hood, and let her out. She had my mom’s purse and handed it to me. Wrapping my free arm around Lotus’s shoulders, I escorted her up the stairs and to her door.
“I’m good,” she said. “You can go. You don’t have to stay.”
“I want to stay.” I ran my knuckles down her cheek, the word love tattooed on that hand.
I was ready to acknowledge that it was Lotus I’d thought of when I had it done. She was the one who showed me what love could potentially be. She’d given me copious amounts of it, and her belief in me had given me the guts to pursue my dream. Now it was my turn to show and give her those things.
“Can I come inside?” I asked when she had the door unlocked and open.
“You were . . . you’re always welcome to be where I am,” she said somberly, her pretty eyes bright as she lifted her chin to look at me.
“That means a lot to me.” Reaching for her hand, I squeezed it.
“Why are you home so early?” Cork asked from where he was sprawled out on the same scratchy green couch I remembered from our youth.
“I got fired,” Lotus said.
“Fu—I mean, shit.”
“Yeah, it sucks.” She exhaled and her shoulders fell. “I can’t ask Macari for a reference, but I’ll ask Ash for one and start looking for a new job tomorrow.”
Her mentioning Ash gave me an idea. I made a mental note to talk to him about it.
“Tonight, I just want to put up my feet, be totally lazy, and forget about all the rest.”
“Why don’t you let us take care of you for a change,” I said, steering her