I stood, leaned in, and kissed my mother’s soft cheek. She turned to me. “Are you going?
“Yeah, Mom. We better let you get some rest.”
Her hand came to my wrist, and she held on, making my heart squeeze painfully. “Are you coming back tomorrow?”
“Bright and early.” I kissed her again then lifted Josh into my arms.
“I’d love that.”
I helped her settle back, making sure her pillows were where she wanted them, lifted her water to her mouth so she could take a sip through the straw, then tucked the blankets around her. Her eyes grew heavy instantly. “Sleep well, Mom.”
She smiled again and we left, closing the door behind us.
Hunter wrapped his fingers around the back of my neck and pulled me into his side as we walked down the hall. He didn’t say anything, didn’t have to. He was there for me, for Josh, and he managed to show us every day that we meant something to him. He was making it extremely hard to think about leaving. I was starting to rely on him, not only for protection, but support, comfort.
I hitched Josh higher on my hip. He was getting heavy and restless, and started wriggling, wanting to get down. Hunter reached for him without missing a beat. My son went to him without complaint, resting his head on that beautifully inked, broad shoulder.
Hunter draped his arm around mine and pulled me back into his side. I wrapped my arm around his waist, gripping his T-shirt.
Like we were a real couple again, like we were a family.
Our hips brushed as we walked, and I shivered. I couldn’t help it. I was starved for him, for every scrap of affection, every touch. It didn’t matter how much he gave me. I couldn’t get enough of him. When he touched me, it felt like I came out of myself, and I could think of nothing but him. I needed that, so much.
We hadn’t had sex, not since the time in the bathroom at the agency. I knew he was trying to ease me back into this relationship, was worried about my state of mind after opening up about the abuse and rape, after what Pierce had tried to do again. But I didn’t want that, I didn’t want time to process, or come to terms, or find some other way to move forward. I wanted to keep it locked away, deep, deep down inside, and forget all about it. I didn’t want to unpack that crap and throw it all over the place. I didn’t want to deal with the mess that was my life.
Why would I want to do that? I couldn’t see the point.
Besides, our time together had an end date. I didn’t want to waste what little we did have left. I wanted to make the most of every damn minute.
He kept his arm around me the whole way, only letting me go when we got to his car so he could unlock it.
I reached for Josh to put him in his booster seat, but Hunter ignored my outstretched arms, opened the backseat, and put him in. I headed to the passenger side and opened up. I was about to get in when my phone rang.
I checked the screen. Ruby.
I frowned and answered as Hunter moved around behind me.
“I’m bringing pizza and a movie over for girl’s night tonight,” she said. “Any preference on the flick? Action or romance?”
“Um . . .”
“I’ll get wine too.”
“O-kay . . .”
“So the movie?”
“Romance?”
“Good choice. See you a little later.” The phone disconnected and I stared down at it.
“Who was that?” Hunter asked.
“Ruby. Apparently we’re having a girl’s night tonight.”
Hunter smirked. “Jesus.”
“What?”
He just shook his head, that smirk front and center.
I shoved my phone in my back pocket and started to get in. That’s when the rear window of the car beside us exploded. I screamed and covered my head.
Hunter shoved me toward the front seat. “Get in!”
Something hit my right arm as I dove for cover, but I barely noticed. All my focus centered on getting in the car, getting to Josh.
He was screaming in the back. I needed to make sure my baby was okay. There were shots being fired all around us, and I scrambled into the back seat and threw myself over my son.
Hunter crouched low, wrenched open the driver’s door and jumped in, yelling into his phone.
“The glass is bulletproof, but keep your fucking head down, Lulu. And put your goddamn seatbelt on.”
Then Hunter revved the engine, backed up, and roared out of the hospital parking lot. I quickly buckled up and held on as he tore out onto the street. He cursed as he shifted through the gears, tires squealing around corner after corner.
Josh was screaming. I did my best to calm him, but he was terrified, and only after we’d been driving a while and Hunter had slowed down did he start to settle, his screams turning to shuddery, hiccupy little gasps. I kissed his chubby cheek and held his hand, all I could do with him strapped into his booster.