Page 78 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “You’ll see her again, Sabrina.”
“I really hope so.” My voice cracked but I didn’t let it stop me from saying what I needed to say. “But if I don’t, promise me you’ll make her happy. Give her cute little blond babies and spoil her rotten at Christmas. Take her on a vacation once a year so she can get a tan. She deserves to be happy, Silas.”
“I promise,” he said softly. “I’ll make her the happiest woman alive.”
“Thank you,” I whispered as my eyes flooded.
Beau stepped up and curled me into his side. With his free hand, he shook Silas’s, then pulled me tighter as Silas walked outside and drove away.
“It’s going to be all right.” Beau held me tight as I lost control of my tears. My shoulders shook violently as I kept trying to tamp down the loud sobs. I couldn’t cry long because Beau needed to get home, but when he was safely on the road, I’d let my emotions loose. I could hold it in for just a little while longer.
“I’m good,” I hiccupped and stepped away. “Let me get your sandwiches so you can go.”
He reached out and pulled me back into his arms. “I’m staying tonight.”
“You don’t have to.” There wasn’t any conviction in my words. I wanted him to stay and hold me all night long.
“I’m staying,” he repeated.
I lifted my chin so he could bend down and lightly brush his lips to mine. He lingered a bit but broke apart when my stomach growled again.
“We’d better eat.” I demolished one peanut butter and jelly in record time while Beau ate the other.
“How are you feeling?” Beau asked as I made him another sandwich.
I shrugged. “Sad. I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll ever get to go home again.”
“Would that really be so bad?”
I set down my butter knife. “What?”
“If you couldn’t go back, would that really be so bad?”
I spun around from the counter, angry at him for making light of the situation. The stress of the day made me snap. “How could you even ask that? Of course it would be bad. I want my life back.” I’d be making some changes to my former lifestyle but at least I’d still be me.
“You want your Seattle life back?” he asked.
“Yes.” I was baffled by his question. “What other life do I have?”
Beau’s jaw clenched tight and the vein on his forehead bulged. “Seriously?”
Gah! Why the hell was he angry? I was the one who had the right to be upset. It wasn’t his life, his identity on the line here. His temper had spiked for no reason except that I wanted to go home. This was ridiculous. He was being ridiculous.
“Yes, seriously. I want to go home. I want to live my life. I want to be free to make my own choices.” I didn’t know what witness protection entailed but my freedom and independence would most likely be limited.
Beau shook his head. “You’re hell-bent on going home and picking up right where you left off?”
“Yes!” How was this a shock? Witness protection would be any sane person’s last resort.
“You wouldn’t even consider living somewhere else?”
“No.” My mouth hung open as I gaped at him. I wouldn’t even get to pick my new home. The FBI would do that for me. Of course I wouldn’t want that. Was he crazy?
“Huh,” he scoffed. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” I stared at him wordlessly as he marched over to the fridge and yanked out a water, slamming the door closed so hard the condiments in the door’s shelves went crashing.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I can’t believe you’re mad at me.”
“And I can’t believe I’m falling for a girl who is so stubborn, she won’t even consider that the life she wants to return to so badly is complete shit.” Without looking back, he grabbed his keys off the counter and stormed outside.
