“I thought you said time isn’t an issue.”

Raising an eyebrow, I remove her hand from my lap, put my arm around her, and tuck her against my side. Her hair tickles my mouth. “It isn’t, but neither is my stamina. I’ll pull over and fuck you into next week if you whip my dick out.”

She shudders, then relaxes her body. Her nervousness forgotten as she melts against me.

I don’t know how long we drive in silence, but it’s different from before. It’s the kind of quiet I’m used to sharing with Beth. The stillness that doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything. I’m still losing my shit on the inside, wondering how I’m going to take hearing her obvious choice if things go well today, but she’s fearless next to me now.

My brave girl. So fucking brave. Does she know how amazing I think she is? Have I shown her? Told her enough?

Her head moves against my chest, and I glance down, meeting dark eyes brimming with tears.

What the . . .

My heart slams against my sternum, nearly rocking me forward. All words escape me. My fucking vocabulary reduced to a pained groan as I look to the road to make sure I’m still on it, then back down at her.

“Why did you stop?” she asks through a soft voice.

Stop? Stop what? What the fuck was I doing besides assuming my girl was fucking content next to me?

She laughs at my confusion, which only exaggerates at the sound of her amusement. “You were humming,” she explains, running her finger below my bottom lip. “You do that when you’re quiet sometimes. Did you know? I love hearing you, Reed. Your voice might be my favorite sound.”

Humming? I was humming? And she’s ready to burst into fucking tears because I stopped?

“You’ve hummed it before. I don’t think I know that song.”

Her hand falls away from my face.

What was I humming? Something she’s heard from me before, but what?

I think back to the nights Beth has fallen asleep in my arms. When I’ve pressed my lips to the back of her neck and pulsed a melody against her skin.

Of course.

I take my hand briefly off the wheel to run it through my hair. “Yeah, I can’t get it out of my head.”

“It’s beautiful. Will you sing it to me?”

“What?”

Sing it to her? Is she serious? I’ve never sung to anyone before. I do that shit when I’m alone, or when I can be drowned out by the radio.

Her full, red lip pouts as she looks up at me. “Please? I want to hear the words so bad.”

“Your voice might be my favorite sound.”

Sighing, my head hits the seat. I can do this. It’s just singing.

Her finger traces lazy circles on my thigh, but she stops the second the words flow past my lips.

“I’m trying real hard not to shake. I’m biting my tongue, but I’m feeling alive and with every breath that I take, I feel like I’ve won. You’re my key to survival. And if it’s a hero you want, I can save you. Just stay here. Your whispers are priceless. Your breath, it is dear. So please stay near.”

I risk a glance down at her. Mouth dropped open, her eyes blazing with wonder as she stares up at me.

Well, at least she isn’t crying.

“Reed,” she murmurs, her gaze transfixed on my mouth. Her heartbeat thundering against my side. “Keep going.”

I kiss her head, watching that smile grow, feeling it hit me in the center of my chest.

My eyes turn back to the road as I give her what she wants.

THE SILVER MOON DINER ONLY has a few cars in the gravel lot surrounding it. None of them a black Monte Carlo, the vehicle Beth’s dad told her he would be driving.

“We’re early,” I reassure her when she looks around the lot, then back at the road. I place my hand on her back as she turns her head, her eyes heavy with awareness.

Sighing, she tugs at the bottom of her shorts. “It’s almost two o’clock. We’re not that early.”

I lead her toward the door, not responding, because fuck, she’s right. We’re meeting at two. It’s less than five minutes ’til. We’re not early. We’re on time.

I take in a deep breath, calming my nerves.

The hostess inside the diner greets us with a smile. “Afternoon. Two today?”

“Three,” Beth eagerly corrects her. “My dad’s coming too.”

I sit across from Beth in the booth, taking the menu from the hostess and flipping it open. Beth sets hers down and stares out the large window, keeping her hands in her lap.

An older woman in a bright teal apron walks up, smiling. “Afternoon. My name is Doris and I’ll be your waitress today. Can I start you two off with something to drink?”

Beth doesn’t respond. Doesn’t turn her head or acknowledge our waitress is any way.

I look up at Doris. “Sweet tea for her. I’ll take a root beer.”

Doris walks away.

I tap my foot against Beth’s under the table, setting my menu aside. She turns her head, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. She looks sad and hopeful at the same time. How that’s possible, I have no idea.

Our drinks are set in front of us. Doris pulls a notepad out of the front of her apron, ready to take down our order.

“Oh, we’re waiting for someone,” Beth tells her, holding up her hand. Her dark hair brushes against her cheek when she turns her head abruptly. “Can we wait until he gets here? I want us to eat together.”