Free Can't Slow Down by Lizzie Hart Stevens Page B

again.”
    “Lex, I can’t drive right now,” he says, shrugging the shoulder above his injured hand. “I’ve seen you drive, you can handle her, now just go.” He bumps me with his hip to nudge me into the driver’s seat.
    I quickly adjust the seat, fasten my seatbelt, and reverse out onto the main highway. The tires squeal and I throw it into drive and floor it the hell out of there. I’m not waiting around or taking the chance of Patrick or Sarah calling the cops. My hands are shaking and my heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest as I dodge traffic and run red lights.
    “Fuck!” Coen throws his head back against the seat as I try to keep my eyes on the road.
    “Holy shit!” I swerve, dodging a large pickup truck that pulled out in front us. “Where are we going, Coen? I need a destination here.” I make a sharp right turn followed by a quick left.
    “Go to Derek’s. I’ll text him to have the garage door open and ready so you can pull the Hellcat in.”
    Thank God we’re only about five blocks away. My palms are sweating and my knees are shaking.
    “You got her, sweet cheeks. We’re almost there.” Coen’s phone chimes. “Derek’s ready for us.” Perfect timing, too, as I squelch the tires around the last corner.
    Derek is standing outside waiting as I ease the Hellcat into his garage and he immediately hits the closer button.
    I throw the car in park and slump into the seat. Coen reaches over and pats my leg with his good hand.
    “That’s my girl.”
    We both turn to look at each other, huffing and puffing as we try to catch our breath. Coen lets out a heavy sigh and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them again, his beautiful green eyes stare intently and his lips slowly part. I think he’s going to kiss me, but instead his deep voice cracks as he starts to speak.
    “I love you, Lexi.” His voice is barely above a whisper.
    He loves me? He loves me.
    Before I get a chance to reply, Derek is standing in front of the car with his arms crossed and breaks the awkward silence.
    “One of you two care to tell me what the hell is going on?” he says before ripping a piece of beef jerky with his teeth.

 
     
     
    AS IF MY LIFE hadn’t already been fucked up enough, now I’m related to the piece of shit that assaulted and abused my girlfriend. Who I may have just freaked out because I said those three little words. I haven’t said those words to anyone in a very long time. I could try and convince myself that it was just a knee-jerk reaction to the moment, but the truth is, even though I’ve only know Lexi for a short time, I’ve come to realize she’s what I’ve been waiting for my entire life. She’s my family now; her and Derek. I don’t need anyone else and I don’t want anyone else.
    Her eyes search my face and her lips part, until Derek’s voice breaks our silence. Sometimes that guy has the worst timing. Lexi and I both get out of the car and I explain the whole thing to him.
    “And now we’re here in your garage.”
    “That is some fucked up shit, dude,” Derek says after swallowing the last bite of his jerky. “So, what’s the plan now?”
    I force out a breath and run my good hand through my hair.
    “I don’t know yet.”
    Derek nods toward my sore hand.
    “Did you break it on that asshole’s face?”
    I slowly open and close my injured fist.
    “Nah, I can move it. I think it’s just bruised.”
    “I’ll get you some ice and something to clean your face.”
    When the door to the house closes behind him, Lexi walks over to me and wraps her arms tight around my waist and gives me a hug. I lean down and bury my nose in her soft hair. She still smells like my shampoo. She smells like home. I never meant to fall so hard and so fast for her, but I can’t imagine my life without her, nor do I want to.
    “Are you okay, Coen?” She lifts her head up to look at me, still holding me close.
    “I’ll be fine in a couple days. It’s not the first