“When?”
“Right now.”
I’m gonna stand guard, I decide, but I don’t say that. “Nothing,” I answer.
“I don’t want you to leave me in here alone.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Your clothes are wet.”
“I know.”
“You could take them off and hang them in the bathroom.”
I do it and then come back to the bedside. “What else?”
“You could lie down with me. Just don’t—”
“I won’t.” I climb on the bed and lie back.
After a moment she sits up. “Don’t move,” she whispers.
I lie completely still as she covers my body with the blanket.
“Stay still,” she whispers, as she lies down next to me, so close her silky skin’s touching me. She finds my arm and pulls it. “You know what would be good?”
“What?”
“If you laid on your side, so this arm could reach where I want it.”
I roll onto my side and lift my arm to help her position it in front of her. Then both of her arms wrap around mine and draw it against her.
“He might be dead,” she whispers. “I felt a crack. Or heard it. I’m not sure. It happened so fast.”
I’m silent, waiting for the rest of the story.
“If you’d been there—” She swallows. “You weren’t because I let myself be tricked.” Her small hands tighten their grip on my forearm. “I wish I’d stayed your prisoner. I wish—”
“What?”
“Could I stay with you for a few days? Until I figure things out?”
“Yes.” The thought of her being out of my sight for even a second is inconceivable, but I don’t say it. I will never let go of her again. I don’t say that either. I don’t want to say anything that might upset her more.
“If someone comes looking for me, will you hide me and pretend I’m not here?”
“Sure,” I lie.
“Will you really?”
I hesitate to answer. Finally, I ask, “The truth?”
“Please.”
“No one will come, Raven. Because if they do, I’ll kill them.”
