So close.
The closest yet.
“The girl had never been to the beach.”
“Neither had the boy,” Yoss added in a whisper, his lips moving against my hair.
“They decided to run away to the shore. Where they could dip their toes in the water and walk on the sand. Because everything was always better when they were together.”
“Did they live happily ever after? On the beach? Always together?” Yoss asked, his voice breaking.
I couldn’t look up at him because I knew what I’d see.
And I wasn’t prepared to see his doubt.
“Of course they did. Always together,” I murmured, shivering as the sun disappeared.
Yoss ran his thumb along the inside of my wrist. Slowly. Carefully. “We’ll walk on the beach, Imi, and we’ll dance on the sand. Because one day soon, I promise you that all this ugly will become something beautiful.” Did he believe that? How could he given where he spent his day? Where he sometimes spent his nights? How could he afford to dream the impossible?
But I wanted to dream with him.
I had to.
“I know, Yoss. One day soon,” I agreed.
We stayed like that for a long time, neither of us moving. I wasn’t sure if it was out of fear. Or out of contentment.
Whatever it was, it kept us still.
Lost in dreams neither of us really believed would ever come true.
Present Day
“Good morning, you’re looking a little better this morning,” I said brightly, walking into Yoss’s room with my laptop bag and a smile on my face.
“And you’re full of shit,” he chuckled, struggling to sit up.
“Let me help you,” I said quickly, hurrying to his side.
“I’m fine. You don’t need to do anything,” Yoss snapped, freezing me with his cold, cold voice. My hands, which had been poised ready to readjust his pillows, dropped back to my sides and I took a step back.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
“Why are you here?” he asked gruffly and I wanted to scowl at him.
Just last night he had asked me to stay.
I held his hand until he had fallen asleep.
It was the happiest I could remember being in a long time.
Last night he had let down his walls long enough for me to see him. The Yoss Frazier I remembered. And I had missed him—missedus—so much.
Apparently a good night’s sleep resurrected his need to keep me at arm’s length.
He was about to become reacquainted with my stubborn side.
“I’m your caseworker, remember?” I reminded him, sitting down, hands on top of my bag.
