Page 92 of Bulletproof

Maybe three.

Definitely bigger than two. For sure three.

I closed the double French doors that led out to the patio and was getting ready to climb into bed when there was a knock. When I opened up, Aaron was there with folded arms, looking pissed.

“What?”

“What? I thought you’d drowned! All we found was your damn towel on the beach!”

“Oh yeah. Sorry.” I yawned loudly, ready to pass out, releasing the doorknob as I left him there, scowling at me, and walked over to my bed and flopped down onto it. “I lost track of time, but I think I had an epiphany while I was treading water earlier today.”

“Jory!”

I looked up at him, and he was suddenly there in front of me, going to his knees between mine so that we were eye to eye. His hands on my face felt nice, and when he stroked my hair back from my eyes, I closed them.

“You’re so tired.”

I nodded. “Sorry, Sutter, didn’t mean to scare you. It’s nice that you were worried.”

Slowly, he fingered the silver chain around my neck. “What is this?”

“It’s Saint Jude.”

“Isn’t he the patron saint of lost causes?”

“I dunno. I just know he watches over policemen.”

“I see.”

He leaned my head forward, down onto his shoulder, as he massaged my scalp.

“That’s quite the tattoo you have.”

I sighed deeply. “It’s Sam’s name.”

“Yeah, I saw. Did he ask you to do that?”

“Course not.”

He was quiet for a few minutes before he asked, “Why would you ruin your beautiful skin?”

I tried to pull free, but he increased his pressure.

“Sorry, just wait.”

And I was going to shove him off me, but he was warm, and his fingers felt good, digging into the back of my neck.

“It actually looks like some big signature on your shoulder.”

“That’s what I was going for.”

“The ring wasn’t enough?”

“It was before the ring.”

“Jory—”

“You’re not really trying to turn Jaden into me, are you?”