“I’d walk to the ends of the earth hand in hand with Chace Keaton and all he had to do to get me to do it was kiss me deep, smile at me, hold my hand and call me baby.”

“No one puts his hand on my boy. Not like that. Get me?”

“He looked at my mouth then he looked in my eyes then his arm and hand gave me a squeeze before he stated, “Now, I think she finally fuckin’ gets me.”

“You have no clue," he whispered."No clue about what?" I whispered back."What you handed me last night."I took in a deep breath and asked softly, "What did I hand you, honey?""What's lyin' in that bed."That was when I stopped breathing."I claimed it," he went on. "But last night you gave it to me. Gift's given, no takin' it back. You get that, Tyra?""I think so," I whispered."Get that, baby, it's important.”

“I’d had a really bad day and you hurt me.”His hand at my jaw tensed and he kept whispering when he said, “I’ll probably do it again, Red,because I’m a man and any man can be a dick. But I won’t do it like that, not again. I know you got softunder that attitude and I’ll have a mind to that.”

“Baby?” he called and he felt her eyes on him.“Yeah?” she replied, her sweet voice soft, another tone he was getting used to and this was because the last couple of days it had started to come at him often.“Do me a favor?”“Sure.”“In a second, I’m gonna pull over, get out my gun and give it to you. When I do, shoot me with it.”“What?” she whispered.“I’m facin’ another hour and a half of your music. I’d rather be dead.”Silence then, “Shut up.”

“They took you away from me."His hand squeezed mine, the pendants and chains digging into my skin."I'm back, baby.”