“They won.”
“Did they run into the ocean?”
I laugh because it’s the part she’s been waiting for from the beginning of the show. “Yes. They ran into the ocean.”
“Okay good.”
She closes her eyes and I can tell she’s about to drift off again, so I nudge her shoulder. “Come on,” I coax her. “Let’s go upstairs.”
The statement sends a shiver down my spine, but I have to remind myself I’m only referring to us going to our own bedrooms. I have a guest room that’s just for Raegan, and she’s stayed in it so often her smell has clung to every surface. There are extra clothes already in a drawer, and travel size toiletries in the bathroom down the hall.
She groans louder this time, but instead of waiting for her to get up on her own, I slide my arms beneath her limp body and lift her into a cradling position. “I know, I’m ruining everything and I’m the worst,” I murmur teasingly.
“Admitting is the first step to recovery,” she mutters, throwing her arms around my neck and nuzzling into my chest. It’s like she’s trying to kill me.
I can’t help but smile as I carry her up the steps to the second floor.
Her bedroom is cold, just the way she likes. The temperature hasn’t dropped enough for me to start using the central heating, so the inside of the house matches the crisp cool air outside. October is the month when autumn truly takes form in Tennessee. Being in the south, the humidity lingers through September, and we can only hope the average temperature will change by Halloween. This year it seems the weather has turned in our favor.
I place her on the bed and pull a blanket from the bottom drawer of the dresser. She’ll crawl beneath the comforter eventually, but just in case I drape a quilt over her as she curls up on her side.
As I’m leaving, she calls out softly. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Rae,” I tell her, closing the door with a soft click. Then I’m off to my bedroom to clear my head before attempting to sleep.
Chapter Five
RAEGAN
Iwake up in a bed that’s not mine, but it only takes me a moment to realize where I am. I can tell the moment I open my eyes and see the smooth white ceiling above me. The ceilings in my apartment are an ugly beige stucco.
The stiff mattress beneath me only confirms where I am. I shift and hear the creaks and groans of Jamie’s guest bed, but really my bed, given I’m the only one who ever stays here. It’s nice having a bed after a late movie night when I don’t feel like driving home, but would it kill Jamie to update it? I’m pretty sure it’s over a hundred years old and is only a few more sleeps away from falling apart.
It’s Saturday morning, so my plans for the day are wide open. Part of me wants to stay in all day and avoid the outside world. It’s something I tend to do quite a bit, though I know it’s not the best coping mechanism.
I’ve struggled with anxiety my entire adult life, and whenever there’s a complicated situation, my way of processing involves avoiding it altogether.
Important phone call? Ignore it and try to forget.
Confrontation with an ex? Hide at my best friend’s house for the foreseeable future.
I don’t do well when it comes to pressure, and after last night’s scuffle between Jamie and Patrick, I think I’ll stay in my own little bubble while the world continues on outside my door. At least I’m not alone. Jamie will be here to keep me company. And his streaming subscription.
I toss the covers from my sweaty body and gather what little supplies I have to go take a shower. I have an extra change of clothes that I keep here at all times, but if I’m going to be staying longer than a day, I’ll need to go home and pack a bag.
As I pad down the carpeted hall to the bathroom, I hear the whine of the coffee maker, meaning Jamie must be downstairs. I glance at my watch and see I’ve slept till eleven. Jamie’s probably been awake since dawn.
I quietly close the door and proceed to re-tie my hair into a neater bun from where it’s come loose throughout the night. Once it’s secure, I remove the clothes I slept in last night and step into the shower.
The water is hot against my flushed skin, and I pretend each droplet is washing away the events of yesterday. I never expected Jamie to threaten Patrick the way he did. The sight of his hand clenched around Patrick’s throat—loose enough not to truly injure, but tight enough to send a message—infiltrated my dreams as I slept. In my dream, Patrick was a human-sized avocado, and Jamie was the size of a skyscraper, his hand large enough to wrap around Patrick’s round body and squeeze all his insides out!
Remembering the dream now is hilarious, but as I tossed and turned throughout the night, it felt more like a nightmare. Jamie being protective has never looked so predatory before. He looked out for me in high school when guys in his grade made fun of my nerdy appearance, and he’s never been afraid to bethe first to speak up on someone else’s behalf. But last night he looked like he was one insult away from crushing Patrick’s windpipe.
It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard a comment like that on the close relationship Jamie and I have, though maybe a little less rude. If I had a dollar for every resident of this town who has asked if we’re a couple, I’d have enough to take at least a week's vacation from the bookstore.
I understand why some might think we’re in a relationship, because, in a way, we are. For me, it’s more than a friendship. We’re as close and compatible as any couple, we just don’t kiss.
Or have sex.
