Out of Mind (Out of Line #3)(54)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

He waved his hand. “We all know you were in a dark place, yes, but you seem better now. I hear you go to therapy twice a week, and the nightmares have mostly stopped?”

I stared him down. “Sir, have you been reading my medical records?”

“No.” He laughed. “Your roommate, otherwise known as Hernandez, is keeping me informed. He told me when you came back, and I’ve been watching you ever since. Watching you heal.”

“But why?” I asked, more confused than ever. “I don’t understand.”

“Because I want Carrie to be happy, and you’re the one who makes her happy.” He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Speaking of which, do you want your old job back, Griffin…er, Finn? With our permission to date and love our daughter for the rest of your life, as long as you treat her like you should?”

I swallowed hard. “I have to talk to her first. See if that’s what she wants. But I…I want to go to college. I think Richards is still going to pay for me to go, even though I’m not a Marine anymore. He told me he was.”

“Then go to the same college as Carrie,” Mrs. Wallington said. “That would be perfect.”

Senator Wallington motioned in the general direction of the campus. “I’ll even pay for your education myself as part of your salary if that’s what it takes for you to come back. But if you ever hurt her again, I’ll—”

Mrs. Wallington stepped forward. “What he means, Finn, is we forgive you. We’re willing to move on instead of dwelling on the past.” Mrs. Wallington held on to her husband’s arm. “Isn’t that right, Hugh?”

He flinched. “Yes. That’s right.”

“Thank you. I…I don’t know what to say,” I said, my throat feeling way too damn tight.

“She’s waiting for you out there,” Mrs. Wallington said. “You ready to go back to her?”

I looked at the door. “What about Riley?”

“He’s there, too,” Senator Wallington said, opening the door. “But I told you, she doesn’t love him. I’d prefer her to love him, to be honest, but she just doesn’t.”

“I’ll guard her, even if she’s with him.” I gritted my teeth. “I’ll do it anyway, so I might as well get paid for it. I can’t trust anyone else. What about Hernandez?”

“He quit already. Said being a Marine was enough danger for any one man,” the senator said, straightening his tie. “I never saw him as long-term. I was just waiting.”

I cocked a brow. “For?”

“You. I knew you’d be back.”

“So did I,” Mrs. Wallington said.

I shook my head. This was the weirdest f**king conversation ever. “If she does take me back, I’m not changing for you.” I stared him down, running my fingers over my scar. “She likes me the way I am. Or, she did, anyway.”

He inclined his head. “Fair enough. As long as you treat her right this time, I can work with that. But if you—”

“Hugh.”

Senator Wallington cut off, shooting me one last look before heading for the door. I didn’t say anything else. I followed them out into the main area, my heart thundering in my ears. Were they right? Did Carrie want me, even though Riley had come back into the picture at the worst moment? We entered the room, and I saw her immediately. Her hair was down now, and she sat next to Riley.

She looked f**king exhausted.

We walked over to them, me a few steps behind the Wallingtons. Carrie looked up, cried out, and flung herself into my arms. “Are you okay? They had you in there forever.”

I hesitated only a second before I closed my arms around her tight. Riley locked gazes with me, nodding once. Saying he was okay with this type of contact with his girlfriend, I suppose. “I’m okay. I just have a headache.”

She let go of me, framed my face with her hands, and nodded. “Let’s get you home.”

“You mean to Hernandez’s place?”

“He’s not there. He said he was leaving the job and the apartment—since the apartment belongs to Carrie’s guard,” Senator Wallington said, heading for the door. “We’ll take you there.”

I had no idea what was going on, but I didn’t want to ask Carrie in front of them.

My questions would have to wait.

We all piled in to the limo, mostly silent. Finally, Carrie spoke. “Apparently, they came after us because of Cory.”

“Cory?” I snapped, my head lifting instantly. “What did he do?’

“He hired them to scare us, and make Riley look like a fool since he couldn’t protect me.” She shrugged. “Cory thought that would make me break up with Riley, I guess. Or maybe he thought it would scare Riley off. I don’t know.”

I curled my hands into fists. I’d kill the f**ker. “They did more than scare you both.”

“Yeah, they broke the plan. They decided to ransom us off for money and leave us somewhere to be found afterward,” Riley said, looking down at his bandaged arm. “They were looking for money for their next fix, and thought they found it in us.”

“Cory,” I snarled, rage choking me. “I always knew that guy was trouble.”

She nodded. “You were right. I should have believed you. He’ll be facing charges now.”

I snorted. “He should face me. I’ll make him sorry he ever thought of endangering you.”

“Agreed,” Senator Wallington said. “For once.”

We all fell silent until the limo stopped in front of my old place. I nodded my head at Riley and the Wallingtons. Finally, I locked eyes with Carrie. “Thanks for the ride.”

“You bet,” Carrie said, her hands clutched in her lap.

I nodded and got out of the car, heading up the walkway. Swallowing hard, I dug my key out of my pocket. It had been way too f**king hard to walk away from Carrie again. You’d think I would be used to it by now.

“Hey, wait up!” Carrie called out.

I stopped, my heart lurching. Slowly, I turned. The limo left, but Carrie stayed. I didn’t know what to think of that. “Yeah?”

“Did you mean it?”

I gripped my keys tight. “Did I mean what?”

“That you still loved me, and never stopped?”

“Of course,” I said. “I love you, and nothing will ever—”

She flung herself in my arms, kissing me into silence. I dropped the keys to the ground, picking her up and hugging her against my chest. By the time the kiss ended, we were both out of breath. She pulled back, her cheeks flushed and her blue eyes shining. “Can I come up with you?”