With a few more glares in Vince’s direction and an eye on where their hands were linked, he left them alone. Lee bubbled excitedly. “I’m free?”
Vince nodded. “Yea, Glilee. You’re free.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lee was surprisingly nervous about going home. She still didn’t know where she would be staying that night. Part of her wondered if Vince would offer. Did she even want him to offer? Staying with Sadie would probably be safest, or Chuck’s couch was always an option too.
Vince had walked her out of the pack house, his hand dragging her along while they passed by people who stopped and smiled at her. Lee smiled back but in a shocked and uncertain kind of way.
“Sorry,” he said in his truck. “I didn’t think you’d want to be dissected by them.”
That he knew her enough to know all she wanted to do was leave, made her stomach quiver. “It’s alright. You thought right.”
She had just spent the better part of two weeks under a microscope, her every movement being watched. Just being free of that was refreshing. She felt like she could breathe again.
“I’m also going to apologize now for your house.”
Lee narrowed her eyes at him. “What about my house?”
Vince glanced over at her and laughed. “Nothing bad. Put your scary eyes away. It’s just the pack wanted to show you support but Owen had you under tight security after some people had gotten through. Nothing was allowed in after that.”
“But you got the Cobie in to give me those letters.” The letters which she had tucked in her bag by her feet. She planned on keeping each and everyone one of them and when she was feeling down, she would read them and remember Cobie explaining the stories behind them.
“Well, I was different,” he said taking her hand. “I had your best interest at heart.”
“So what’s in my house then?”
He smiled slyly. “You’ll see.”
Lee had to wait another five minutes before they pulled in her driveway. The first thing she noticed was all the weeds had been pulled in her flowerbeds and her lawn had been mowed.
“That was sweet,” she said as a rush of gratitude swept over her.
“Just wait, there’s more,” Vince took her bag from her and walked her inside.
Flowers of every shape, size and color filled her living room. There were balloons telling her to get well soon and cards with little notes meant to make her smile. She wanted to stop and read each and every card but Vince was pulling her toward the kitchen.
“Apparently a few of the older women in the pack had snooped a bit when dropping off flowers. You are now stocked with every kind of casserole imaginable.”
Lee opened her fridge and then her freezer. He wasn’t lying. She had a few months worth of food. “Wow,” was all she could say.
“You are loved, Lee. Never, ever doubt that again.”
She closed the fridge doors and turned to Vince. He was leaning back against her counter, his hands in his front pockets and his legs crossed at the ankle. There was a tiredness to his face that she hadn’t noticed before. Lee stepped up to him, his hands automatically coming out of his pockets to rest on her hips.
“Thank you.”
His eyes twinkled with happiness. “I’d say we are about even now Glilee. You save me, I save you. I suggest we give the saving a break for now and just enjoy each other for a while.”
“I think I can agree to that.”
His kisses were becoming familiar, like a treat she could look forward to. Lee, who had decided to take the hard route and work through her problems instead of just running from them, accepted his caresses as reward. She had a tough road ahead and was nowhere near stable at this point but she had made her choice. She chose this. She chose to kiss a man she had loved for years over giving up control. She chose friends who could forgive instead of a life of loneliness. She chose a life of happiness, hard work and reward over animal instincts.
It wasn’t over. She knew that the dark thoughts were still there. That anxiety would eat at her again. Vince’s kiss was not a cure all but a bandage meant to aid in healing. No more secrets and lies. No more wasted days lying in bed waiting for the crumbling of her chest to finally bury her.
Vince wouldn’t let her drown in self-doubt. He’d help her, push her. His arms around her would hold her up, hold her steady while she found her strength. Lee’s next steps were unclear and for the first time in a very long time, that was ok with her. This was her choice, her control, her life.
And she would damn well make the best of it.
*****
Valek Firemourn: Will you please give me that broadsword now?
Glilee Lunamaul: Hell.
Glilee Lunamaul: No.
Valek Firemourn: But we are in love. True love means you would give me that sword.
Glilee Lunamaul: Go find your own. I won this and don’t plan on giving it up.
Valek Firemourn: Alright then, at least move in with me. Think of it as a consolation prize. It’s killing me having you so far away.
Glilee Lunamaul: Is this an ultimatum?
Valek Firemourn: Only if it works.
Valek Firemourn: Lee?
Glilee Lunamaul: Fine.
Glilee Lunamaul: But I am not sharing that dinky space you call an office.
Valek Firemourn: Glilee.
Glilee Lunamaul: I want my own nerd room.
Valek Firemourn: Wait.
Glilee Lunamaul: And we are going to have to have a serious talk about how much siracha is used. Seriously, you put it on everything. It can’t be healthy.
Valek Firemourn: GLILEE!
Glilee Lunamaul: Oh, and about the bed. I think it needs to be bigger…What?
Valek Firemourn: Are you saying what I think you’re saying?
Glilee Lunamaul: Well I sure as hell ain’t giving you my sword.
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About the Author
K.C. Stewart is the self published author of the Hailey Holloway series and most recently, the Adirondack Pack series. All her life she had fantasized and day-dreamed on a regular basis but it wasn’t until she began writing short stories that she made those fantasies a reality. She has graduated to novels but still dabbles in the occasional flash fiction and short story. Because of her love for reading and the written word, K.C. is currently continuing her education at Clarion University for Library Science. When she isn’t taking photographs, studying or writing, she is supporting a very real gummy bear habit. Currently, she lives with her boyfriend, german shepherds and cats in central Pennsylvania.
The Hailey Holloway Series
Spark
Singe
Scorch
Smolder
Swelter
The Complete Series
The Adirondack Pack Series
Over the Line
Too Far Gone
In Pursuit
Fault Lines
On the Edge
On the Edge (Adirondack Pack Book 3) Page 22
