Blind Love by Kishan Paul Page B

playing.
    “The right thing for me or you?” she asked, so quiet he barely heard the question.
    His gut twisted. “Both.”
    She pulled away. “Are you worried I’ll get hurt or that you’ll change your mind about the long term thing?”
    “Both,” he said again.
    Mrs. Rourke was upon them before their conversation got any more complicated, and he walked away, allowing them time for their goodbye.
    A few minutes later, he strolled back to his truck with Lauren and Jack. The entire ride home was spent in silence. Which suited him fine. Goodbyes were hard enough.
    Once they parked in her driveway, Lauren gulped some air and blew it out. “I know I told you this morning I regretted what we did, but I want you to know I don’t.”
    He raised his brows at her confession. “What changed your mind?”
    “You.” She didn’t look at him. Just stared straight ahead. “I was at a low place. You made me feel attractive. And although I wish I had found other ways to get the same effect, nothing I could have done would have been as powerful as what you’ve done for me. And I don’t mean the sex, either. I mean tonight, the things you’ve said, all of it. Thank you.”
    His chest tightened. Even if there was no future for them, maybe he could at least help her see reality. “Can I give you some honest advice?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Don’t ever think you’re less than anyone because you’re blind. The truth is, when people are around you, they’re the ones who feel less. You make them want to be someone they’re not. Someone better than they ever considered being.” When she sniffled, he clenched the steering wheel. “There’s a guy out there for you. Never settle until you find him. Okay?”
    “And you?”
    “What about me?”
    “Who’s out there for you?”
    He didn’t respond. Again, silence filled their space.
    “You’re so secretive. You’re not an undercover spy for the government or something, are you?”
    He laughed and shook his head. “Nothing so sexy.”
    She opened the door and let Jack jump out. “Gabe?”
    “Yeah?”
    “If your top secret life problem ever changes, will you call me?”
    He stared at her. Wished he could kiss her one last time, but didn’t. “I will.” Seconds later, she shut the door.
    From his truck, he watched them walk to her house. Waited until she was inside before resting his head on the seat and closing his eyes. A cement block sat on his chest as he wished again, for the millionth time in the past two days, his life was different. He considered going in there and telling her the truth. Even played out the different scenarios. None of them ended well.
    As he sat there contemplating ways to make her understand, the front door opened. Lauren stepped onto the entry, her hand shielding her eyes from his headlights. With a deep breath, he put the car in reverse and pulled away. She’d never understand.
    A few minutes into the drive, his cell went off. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered anyway. By the time he hung up, his heart was racing and he was en route to Texas.

Chapter Thirteen
    His Alibi
    A pang of guilt shot through Ben as he exited the interstate. This was his weekend with Chloe. Had the captain’s call been about anyone else, he wouldn’t have left his baby girl with his parents and made the one-hour commute into town. But this wasn’t anyone else.
    When he put in his request yesterday to stop patrolling Lauren’s neighborhood, the man asked him why. He had no choice but to tell his boss about his fucked-up past, his ex and where she lived.
    Fortunately, their conversation was still fresh on the captain’s mind when the Harris County PD contacted him asking for help on a missing persons’ case. Since Lauren’s name was dragged into the mess, he called Ben. Now, a couple hours later, Ben was tagging along on the investigation with direct orders: “Keep your mouth shut and let the detectives do their job.”
    Questions ran through his head.