can do.” She touched my cheek. “I’m not completely sure I want to hear all the details, but if you need to talk about it, I’m here.”
Knowing that made me feel better. “Thanks. I’m not sure I’m ready to relive it yet. But I’m glad to know you’ll be listening when I can.” I slid to my feet. “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta get back to the shop. Mind locking up?” I took the key off my keyring and pressed it into her palm.
“Hang on. I’ll leave with you.” She scrambled off the desk and collected her bag. “Oh. Your jacket.”
She held it out to me.
“Thanks.” I shrugged it on and grabbed our trash.
She slid her hand into mine and everything clicked into place.
I wanted more.
More of her body. More of her light. More of her soul.
Her heels clicked on the concrete as we moved toward the door.
I hesitated before I turned the doorknob. "It's a two-way street. If you need to talk, I mean.”
She went rigid for a moment, as if the idea was hard to handle. Then she relaxed and squeezed my hand. “I appreciate that.”
I held open the door and followed her through. Maybe we hadn’t gotten anything out in the open, but I was confident if I needed to talk, she’d be there.
As I locked up, her mouth grazed my ear. “Same place tomorrow?”
Chapter Thirty
Baker
I lingered at the office as long as I could get away with.
I didn’t want to go home to an empty house, and Holt had already texted he was going to be late.
The silence was a comfortable one when I pushed into the apartment, but still too much for me to bear. I put on “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” by Two Feet and collapsed on the sofa.
My mind had been at war all afternoon between Holt and Kyle. One or the other had demanded my attention. A ghost and the man who was slowly but surely mending my broken pieces.
A soft rap on the door jolted me to my feet. The neighbors had a tendency to drop by whenever they felt like it, something I was still getting used to.
I checked the peephole before I opened the door.
“Mrs. Quinn.” I gave her a quick hug and stepped aside. “What brings you by?”
She held up a box of tea. “I miss seeing you every day.”
I welcomed her inside, and we caught up on the latest at Paths as I heated water and searched for cups.
Full cups in hand, we settled on the sofa. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s the only reason you’re here.”
“Thought you might like some company. Especially today.”
I choked on a sip of tea. Of course, she wouldn’t forget.
“I’m good,” I said once I found my voice. “Better than usual, I guess.” And that bothered me. Did it mean I was forgetting? Or that I’d become numb to what happened?
Mrs. Quinn nodded once and hid behind her cup. “I didn’t come by so we could talk about it. You’ve relived what happened enough.”
“It’s getting easier and harder,” I confessed. “I’m finding my place. Have more good days than bad. And I don’t deserve it.”
She touched my leg. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I stiffened. “How can you say that? I-I don’t want to talk about this.”
“We don’t have to.” She glanced away, fiddling with the handle on her tea cup. “Have you seen the news today?”
“No. I’ve intentionally avoided it.”
“Someone leaked that he didn’t act alone.”
I bolted to my feet. “What do you mean?”
“I’m afraid they’re going to dig. The reporter claims it was a woman—”
“They promised to protect me,” I shouted.
“Everything okay?”
The front door clicked shut behind Holt, who looked between Mrs. Quinn and me.
She smoothed a polite smile on her face. “Hello, Holt. I hope you don’t mind I dropped by for a cup of tea with Baker. I find Paths to be a bit lonely without her.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can’t have her back.” He strode straight over to me and kissed me.
Motor oil and Holt only marginally settled me.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Is this a ladies-only conversation or can I join you once I change clothes?”
Mrs. Quinn held up her near empty cup and stood. “I need to be on my way.”
“Hot date with an old man?” Holt winked at her.
“Something like that.”
“I’m glad.” He turned to me and said, “I’ll shower and then we’ll have dinner, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
After another kiss to my forehead, he headed