Coming Home(139)

“His guess is two to four.”

She should have been happy, or at the very least, relieved. Two to four was so much better than ten. Yet a lump still formed in her throat, and she swallowed repeatedly, trying to clear it before she had to speak again.

“What’s gonna happen to the shop?” she asked hoarsely.

Danny removed his hand from her stomach, bringing it above the water and trailing his fingers through the bubbles. “I’ve been training Jake for the past six months. He’s gonna take it over.”

She lifted her brow. “You’re giving it to him?”

“For a while, yeah. He’ll run it while I’m gone, and when I get out, I’ll take it back from him. He’s been talking about opening up his own shop in Queens for a while now, so this will be a good experience for him. Plus, the money he’ll make as co-owner will set him up pretty nicely for what he wants to do.”

“Co-owner?”

“I arranged it so he’ll still be giving Bryan’s share to Gram.”

Leah closed her eyes; she didn’t think it was possible to love him more than she already did, but she was wrong.

It grew quiet again as Danny scooped up handfuls of bubbles, spreading them down Leah’s arms, along the tops of her shoulders, over her collarbone.

“Was there anything else you wanted to know?” he asked.

When she didn’t respond right away, he said, “Ask me, Leah.”

She took a tiny breath. “What about your apartment?”

“My lease is up this summer. I’m gonna have to sort through all my stuff. I’ll store some of it at Gram’s, and some of it will go to the guys, and I guess some shit I’m just gonna have to get rid of. And then when this is all over, I’ll find a new place.”

Leah nodded as Danny shifted, sinking a little further into the water and taking her with him.

“Are you afraid?” she asked softly.

He took a deep breath, his chest rising dramatically beneath her.

“Yes. But probably not for the reasons you’re thinking.”

Leah turned her head slightly, looking up at him.

“I’m not afraid of being in prison,” he said. “I’m afraid about what will be happening out here while I’m gone.”

“What do you mean?”

Danny looked down, shaking his head. “For one, I don’t like that Gram will be alone. Jake’s going to make sure she’s taken care of financially, but—”

“I’ll take care of her.”

He smiled sadly, kissing her head. “You’ve been taking care of people your whole life, sweet girl. You don’t need someone else to look after.”

Leah sat up, turning toward him as she shook her head. “It’s not a burden, Danny,” she stated simply. “It’s a given. I love you, and you love her. So of course I’m going to make sure she’s okay.”

Danny stared at her for a moment, the adoration clear in his eyes before he closed them. He dropped his head back on the edge of the tub, exhaling before he said, “It’s not just Gram I worry about. I’m afraid of leaving you too.”

“Don’t be. You don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

He opened his eyes. “I know you can. You’re one of the strongest people I know, and I really hate that life keeps making you have to prove it.”

Leah swallowed, dropping her eyes to the heap of frothy bubbles between them.

“You’ve been through enough, Leah. You shouldn’t have to suffer through anything else. And the idea that you’ll be suffering because of me…” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “It makes me f*cking sick to my stomach.”