of him for the next three days until it sank in.
He was free. Free from Mickey, free from the threat of prison. And pretty soon, he’d be free of Boston and all the terrible memories that came with it. My pulse skittered as the question that rose with that realization surfaced.
And when he left Boston, what about us?
“Come with me.”
I’d been so preoccupied with my thoughts, I hadn’t realized my MIA boyfriend had rolled up behind me. He took my hand and led me up the stairs from the gym to the apartment with Matty and Reid whistling and catcalling like twelve-year-olds behind him.
“I want to show you something.” He sounded excited but a little nervous, and that made my heart squeeze in my chest.
“Oh, believe me, I’ve seen it, and it’s very impressive,” I said, chuckling at my own joke. He laughed too, but when we reached the top of the stairs, he hung a right and opened what I’d always thought was a utility room or storage closet.
He led me through the doorway into total darkness and I gripped his hand tighter.
“Okay,” I said in a stage whisper, “if you’re about to kill me with lopping shears and then hang me on a meat hook or something, I’m going to be so pissed right now.”
He snorted and tugged me forward, up another flight of stairs.
“I just want to go on record as saying I think attics are super creepy. Creepier than clowns. And dolls. And clown dolls.”
The steps creaked and a doorknob turned, and a second later, the dim light of dusk poured into the stairwell followed by a cool breeze.
“Is this the roof?”
“Do you ever stop talking?” Bash asked, drawing me forward until I stepped out onto the tar shingles. “Seriously. I hate to think what birthdays and Christmas will be like. You have to know everything.”
I poked him in the chest. “That’s right, and don’t you forget it.”
The smile faded from his lips and he pulled me against him until my soft parts were lined up with his hard ones.
“I don’t know how to thank you. And your mom. She was amazing.”
“She was,” I acknowledged, reveling in the unfamiliar sensation of having Bash close to me and knowing I wouldn’t have to let him go any time soon. “You were very gracious, and I know she appreciates your gratitude, but she didn’t do anything you didn’t deserve. None of us did. You’re innocent. So be happy it worked out, but don’t feel beholden to anyone. The justice system worked this time. Now give me a tour of this roof.”
It was a beautiful evening, a little cool when the breeze kicked up, but perfect otherwise, and the stars were just starting to pop out. Bash led me to the center of the roof, where a gray fleece blanket was spread wide. Next to it sat a plate piled high with cannoli and what, from this distance, appeared to be Twinkies. An aluminum bucket holding a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer sat on a stool across from the food, and I let go of Bash’s hand to clap in delight.
“Oh my God! Is this where you’ve been? Getting this all together for me?”
“It’s not Moët or a fancy dinner or anything, but you said you wanted normal for once…” He shrugged his broad shoulders like it was nothing, but it was something to me and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Thank you.”
He pulled me down to the blanket with him and gestured to the food. “Cannoli or Twinkie?” he asked, solemn-faced.
I considered my options and decided it wasn’t a day to worry about calories. “I’ll take one of each, and one of those beers too.”
He set my food selections on a napkin and laid them in front of me before cracking open a can of beer and handing it to me.
"So, this is what a normal date looks like for you?" I took a long pull from the icy can and breathed a happy sigh before leaning back on my elbows to stare at the sky. The appeal of it was understandable. Spending a night out in the open with nothing but cheap booze, the sounds of the city, and Bash to keep me
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