I participated. I don’t know why, maybe because I thought it was safe but also because it felt really nice.
Luke’s head came up and he stared at me.
Then he muttered, “Fuck.”
“What?” I asked, keeping my arms around his neck, he still had his around my back.
“You taste like bubble gum.”
My stomach went into a painful twist and I slid my hands to his chest, putting my arms between us and pushing back a bit. He allowed this but his arms got tight when he was done allowing it, his message was clear and I stopped.
“Vance told me you’re playing games,” I said to Luke.
“Vance would know about games,” Luke said back.
“Please don’t talk about him like that,” I whispered. “You don’t understand what happened.”
“I understand.”
“You don’t.”
“Babe.”
The way he said that made me shut up.
“I’m thinkin’ you should train with Mace from now on,” he said.
Um.
Yikes.
What did that mean?
I decided I didn’t want to know and this was mostly denial because I did know.
“I’m thinking that maybe training is a waste of time,” I told him. “I’m hardly going to get into hand-to-hand combat with these guys doing guerrilla maneuvers.”
“You’re on the street you need to be ready for anything.”
I rolled my eyes. Drama.
“It wasn’t like it was before, Jules. They’re gonna be gunnin’ for you now,” he said to my eye roll.
I had to admit, he was probably right.
“All right,” I said, giving in.
“You still do ride-along with me.”
“Okay,” I agreed immediately.
At that, he grinned.
I realized his arms were still around me and my hands were still on his chest. I pushed back and he let me go, touched my nose then he was gone.
I did the getting-ready-for-bed gig, promised Boo I’d buy him treats tomorrow (and mentally added beer to my grocery list) and lay in bed waiting for Vance to break in.
He didn’t.