“I’ve never been to an aquarium,” I mumble absentmindedly.
“Aquarium?”
I nod, my eyes get heavy and my fog wraps around my thoughts.
Before I know, I’m falling asleep.
His words follow, distant and weightless, vanishing before they ever land.
29
HOPE
The moment my eyes open,a jolt of panic shoots through me, sharp and paralyzing, like ice in my veins. It’s the fact I’m waking up in a room that isn’t mine. Instantly, an emptiness settles into my bones as last night’s events roll back like a bad memory.
I slowly sit up and look around. The blinds are drawn to keep the sunlight out and the space is basked in quietness and darkness. It’s comforting in a lot of ways.
Heath isn’t here. I can’t feel his presence anywhere in his room. Strange, how I can now just know when he’s nearby. It’s like my body knows him in ways that I didn’t even know.
It’s because you love him.
The digital modern clock on his nightstand blinks in red digits. 10:17 am.
I haven’t slept this late in months. In fact, I haven’t slept peacefully in a while. For the first time, I didn’t wake up because of a bad nightmare or due to the shivers that’d come because of the cold winds drifting in through my broken windows.
Sliding off the bed, I carefully make it trying my best that there aren’t any wrinkles.
“Oh dear; you don’t have to do that.” A familiar voice speaks from behind me, making me jolt in shock.
I turn around and find Heath’s mother standing in the doorway, looking stunning in an expensive red dress that fits her perfectly. Paired with diamond jewelry and heels, she resembles a model.
No wonder Heath got all his looks from his mother. She’s elegant and beautiful.
“Uh, I don’t mind.” My whole body tightens seeing her.
Her gaze softens as she steps into the room and fills the air with a lightness, but the knot in my stomach doesnotuncurl.
“How did you sleep?”she asks.
My whole face turns red. “I slept… okay.”
She grins, as if she knows that I slept with her son in the same bed.
My blush deepens.
I wrap my arms around myself and smooth my arms to ease up the trembling nerves. Before she can speak, I say, “You don’t have to worry about anything. Nothing happened between us. I promise.”
A giggle bubbles out of her. “I’m not worried about that.” She turns serious. “I’m worried aboutyou.”
My eyebrows pull together in a frown. “Why?”
Without saying a word, she takes a step forward and I immediately retreat—purely on instinct. The action doesn’t escape her attention and she stops.
My chest caves in from the anxiety that hits me like a train. Air knocks out of my lungs all because I can’t get my body under control. Especially, in front of someone I want to like me.
“I’m sorry,” she quickly moves back.
“No!” I whisper. “I-I don’t know why I moved. I?—”
