Page 98 of Keeping Knight

The worry in Micah’s eyes fades. “Then we have to let it go.”

I nod. “I think we do. Because it’ll hurt both of us if we hang onto it. It was Henry’s fault. Not mine. Not yours.”

“Rue.” Emotion darkens his gaze. “You are just… incredible. How brave you are…” He shakes his head. “The way you stood up to him, and you protected Sampson…”

“He’s okay,” I say quickly. “I know you saw him before we left the condo. But Evie and Dan went over to keep Sampson company. So he wouldn’t be anxious without you there.”

Micah stares at me. Then he swallows hard. “Ruby.”

I push a lock of hair back from his forehead. “Micah.”

“I love you.” His fingers tighten around mine. “None of this falling in love business. I love you. I’ve known it for a while, but I didn’t say it because… I told myself it was too soon. That I should wait until everything settled down before telling you. But really, I think I was scared.”

Tears fill my eyes. “You were scared?”

He nods. “Yeah. It’s kind of crazy. All the shit I faced in the Army, and I was scared to tell you I love you.” Pausing, his gaze searches mine. “But saying it feels right. Because I do love you. So much.”

“Micah.” I squeeze closer to his side. “I love you, too.”

“You do? You’re not just saying that because you feel like you need to? Because it’s okay if you don’t feel that way yet. And I know this is probably the worst time⁠—”

I press my lips to his, cutting him off. “It’s not. Hearing you say that you love me? It’s the perfect time.” I kiss him again. “I love you. And I’m so, so glad you’re okay.”

Assuming Wraith was right about the whole poisoned bullet thing. But I’m going to take him at his word.

“Rue.” Micah puts his free arm around me and hugs me to his side. Then he kisses the top of my head. “I love you, Ruby. And I’m so, so glad you’re okay, too.”

Chapter Twenty-One

MICAH

“What do you want to do with these?”

Jester peers over the stack of cardboard boxes stacked high in his arms. “Are they going into storage?” he continues, “or do you want them at Rogue and Sofia’s for now?”

Ruby sets a bubble-wrapped plate in the open box at her feet and turns to look at him. Her brow furrows in concentration as she thinks. “They can go into storage. But you don’t have to carry so many at once. We can come back another day to finish.”

“This is nothing,” he replies with a grin. “I doubt they weigh a hundred pounds combined. And besides.” He glances across the room at Houdini, who’s about to lift a stack of six large boxes. “I’ve got a bet going to see who can move more. Loser has to buy pizza and beer for everyone.”

Houdini looks over at Jester. “You’re not going to win. I’m already twelve boxes ahead and we’re over halfway done.”

“You guys bet on who could carry more boxes?” Ruby asks.

Already headed towards the front door of Ruby’s apartment, Jester glances over his shoulder at us. “Since Knight’s decided to be lazy, we thought a bet might help make things go faster.”

“Lazy?” I toss a roll of tape at him. “I’m helping Ruby pack.”

“Micah can’t carry heavy things yet,” Ruby says. “Doctor’s orders.” Her nose crinkles as she makes a little face at Jester. “Do you want Micah to have lasting muscle damage?”

“Of course not.” He grins at her. “Then I won’t be able to beat him fair and square the next time we spar.”

“Beat me?” I shake my head. “Fat chance. You should hope I have muscle damage. Then you might actually stand a chance of winning.”

Houdini snorts. “Are you guys going to actually work? Or is this all a ploy to get me to do all of it?”

“It’s a ploy,” Jester replies cheerfully as he heads into the hallway. “You caught us.”

“I’m getting the most expensive pizza in the city.” Houdini replies with a smile. “The one with the truffles and edible gold. And some of that mead from the brewery down the street from F&F. You know, the one that costs fifty dollars a bottle?”