Marin was shaking when she finally came up for air and Thom wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest, willing that shaking to ease and knowing that he wouldn\u2019t let her go until it did. \u201cWe\u2019re okay,\u201d he murmured into her hair. \u201cWe\u2019re okay, Mar. We\u2019re here and we\u2019re together and it\u2019s all going to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
His stomach twisted at the words that might have been a lie for all he knew. That didn\u2019t matter, though. Somehow, some way, he\u2019d make<\/em> everything be okay.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething\u2019s out there,\u201d she whispered into his shoulder. \u201cSomething got the better of Cariocecus and we don\u2019t know what or who it was. He collapsed before he could tell us. I was so worried about you, Thom. I was scared whatever it was might have come after you guys while you were out there alone.\u201d<\/p>\n I should have been here. We shouldn\u2019t have gone.<\/em> His arms tightened around her. \u201cEveryone else is okay?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded, her forehead pressed against his jaw. \u201cEveryone else is fine. It was just him. But there was\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore?\u201d He felt sick. How the hell could there be more<\/em>? \u201cI don\u2019t know that I want to know this right now.\u201d<\/p>\n She laughed weakly and held him a little tighter. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. Let me go get some hot water. You need to get cleaned up.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom stroked her hair and kissed her ear. \u201cI love you, Mar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d She kissed his cheek and gently disentangled herself from his embrace. \u201cStay put. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom nodded and stayed where he was sitting for a long moment after watching her go, his throat tight.<\/p>\n Never again. I\u2019m not going to do this without her ever again. Either we both go, or we both stay\u2014this doesn\u2019t happen ever again.<\/em><\/p>\n He would let himself believe that lie. It was easier that way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marin was shaking when she finally came up for air and Thom wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest, willing that shaking to ease and knowing that he wouldn\u2019t let her go until it did. \u201cWe\u2019re … Continue reading