CHAPTERELEVEN
MARCUS
I watchedthe sunrise from a hill at the back side of the property. Watching the colors of the sky lighten and change calmed me. When the sun was up fully, I rose from the wet grass and walked back to the house. Since she ran The Magic Bean, Ava was an early riser, so I knew she would be awake.
I'd left my cell phone on my nightstand. I would have to go back to the house before I called Ava.
When I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised to find Callum standing at the stove, making eggs, while Merry sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.
Shit. I stopped in the doorway and didn't step inside until the screen door hit me in the back. I wasn't sure what to do.
Especially since they were both staring at me as though I had something smeared all over my face.
"Um, good morning." I cleared my throat. "I'll just go call Ava."
"Good idea," Callum said, expertly folding the cooking eggs into an omelet.
My eyes narrowed. When had he learned to make an omelet? He was always bugging me to make breakfast because he "couldn't."
"She could probably set Merry up with a protection amulet for whatever weirdo is stalking her dreams." He smirked. "Well, not you. The other weirdo."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
"But it should help with the awkwardness between the two of you, as well," he continued. "Which should make the living situation more comfortable for everyone."
"Living situation?" I asked. My first instinct was to look at Merry, but I didn't. I kept my eyes on Callum.
Until she spoke.
"I'm staying here," she stated, taking another sip of her coffee as though she'd said something completely mundane instead of blowing my mind.
"What?" I asked, unable to stop myself from looking at her.
"I'm staying here," she repeated. "I thought about it and, if Ava can make an amulet to protect my mind during sleep, then I'd rather stay here."
I had no idea what to say to that.
Callum slid the omelet on a plate, carried it to the table, and set it front of Merry.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes," she answered. "Callum said a few things that changed my mind."
I turned to Callum. "Tell me you didn't use your mental powers on her. That you didn't impose on her free will."
"Dude, I would never."
"He didn't," Merry insisted. "But he mentioned that you have no control over who you connect with while you're sleeping, which makes sense."
"I—" I stopped speaking, still searching for the words.
"He was telling the truth, right?" she asked, her voice quiet.
"Yes."
"I wasn't in the right headspace to hear and understand that yesterday when I overheard it, but once I calmed down, and Callum explained, it does make more sense for me to stay here with the two of you. And..." she paused to take a deep breath. "I liked talking to you, both of you, before I knew what was happening."
My heart picked up speed and I saw Callum's knowing glance out of the corner of my eye, but I ignored it. She wasn't running away from me.
