“I really wish you didn’t have to go.” Lexi’s sad voice cut right through me as she placed a cup of hot coffee in my hands. Everything about this situation sucked. With Colton on the loose, it felt like I was leaving the lion cage open for the days I would be in Baltimore. The only thing that kept me sane was that Lucas and Sawyer had promised to step in and look out for her while I was away. It was taking everything in me to leave when all I wanted to do was stay.

My free hand landed in her hair as I threaded the soft strands through my fingers. Instinctively, she moved into me and pressed her body closer to mine. I set the coffee down on the end table so I could fully sweep her up into my arms. Her nails dug into my shoulder as she clung to me like this was the last time she would ever see me again.

Doubt and regret floated over me when I looked down into her baby blues. I dropped my hand on her jaw, feeling a thick knot of emotion move through the room. My entire focus was going to be shit, but what other option did I have? I had no idea how I was going to pull this off, all I knew was that I needed to make it happen.

My phone pinged in my pocket, alerting me that I had a new text message. I ignored it and continued to stare down at her, feeling my face pinch tight with worry. My fingers trailed down over her shoulder and pulled on the grey NYP worn t-shirt she wore. She blinked up at me causing something soft to ease its way into my chest.

I cupped her face in my hands as she blinked her tears away. “I don’t want to leave you.” I admitted, not caring if that made me sound weak.

I knew it was going to be tough, but I wasn’t prepared for it to feel physically painful. The feeling of being split apart was tearing me up. “You have to promise me that you will be safe. If anything were to happen to you…” I felt my voice crack. Nothing else in the world mattered more to me then what I was holding right there in my arms.

“You worry too much.” She said, slanting her head to the side with a bright smile taking up her whole face. “Nothing is going to happen, except me missing the crap out of you.” She tried to reassure me while I focused on all the things that could go wrong. I had to trust that my friends would keep her safe.

When my lips met hers, they were greeted with the salty taste of her tears. I was seriously contemplating whether or not I should call my Captain and say fuck it. Nothing was more important than her safety and I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was going to go wrong.

“I’ve never hated my job as much as I do right now.”

She trailed a light kiss over to the corner of my mouth one last time before pulling back and resting her hands on my chest. “We can Skype, text, and email every day.”

I ran my thumb across the top of her brow, liking the way she leaned her face into my hand. I was fully showered, but she wasn’t. I could still smell the scent of our sex from last night on her skin. I felt my lips kick up in the corners.

“What are you smirking about?”

“Just thinking about how at least I’m leaving you fully satisfied.” She laughed and smacked my chest. I closed my eyes and inhaled her scent, loving the way her laugh could calm and soothe me all at once.

“Maybe that was my plan all along.” She teased. “To make sure you left fulfilled. That way I wouldn’t have to worry about you seeking comfort from someone else while you’re away.”

I knew she was joking, but I still pulled my lips together in a tight frown. “You’re crazy if you think I would ever stray from you. I know what I have and I don’t ever plan on fucking it up.”

She rested her hands around the collar of my dress shirt then straightened out the wrinkles. I felt my lungs expand when she stood on her tiptoes and brought her lips to my chin.

“That’s good to know because I plan on keeping you around a little bit longer.”

My grip tightened on her hips as I poured my gaze into hers. “You promise?”

“Scout’s honor.” She said, then pushed me towards the door. “Now stop being so dramatic. You have to get going.”

I picked up my duffle bag by the door. Lexi walked over, placing the coffee cup back in my hands. My eyes glanced around the room once last time as I rolled through my mental checklist.

“I love you.” She said, bringing her lips to mine and letting them linger there. I pushed the hair off her face and tried to ignore the worry wreaking havoc on my nerves. Her blue eyes seemed so tired and I knew she was putting on a brave front for my benefit.

The loud knock on the door had caused her to pull away from me. “Open up, love bugs. I know you’re in there.” Lucas called from the hallway.

I rolled my eyes and pulled the door open to let him in. Lucas breezed past us and took a seat on the leather couch and lifted his mouth in a smirk. He spread his long arms out along the back of the cushions and pushed the coffee table out with his foot to make room for his long legs.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect your lady while you’re away. It’s time for you to get going, Romeo.”

I fastened my bag over my shoulder, took one last look around and walked out. I watched the city disappear in my rearview mirror as I drove away, hoping I wasn’t making a giant mistake.