Gently, he slipped one arm around her back and the other behind her legs and stood. She sighed and snuggled into him.
When he reached her bedroom, he gently slid her into bed and tucked the sheet and blanket around her. He was about to leave when she spoke.
“Holden?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“Can I tell you what I think?”
“You always do.”
Her eyes opened, her indigo eyes beaming into him. “There’s a future version of you who’s standing in the clouds watching, screaming down at you that you’re stronger than you think. You should listen to him. He’s very wise.”
Her words hit him hard in the gut, knocking the air right out of him.
He slipped a lock of hair from her cheek. “You make me want to be stronger.”
“Then do it.”
CHAPTER 15
Clara groaned as she rolled from her belly to her back. She felt hungover. Her head was groggy, she was tired even though she was pretty sure she’d slept all night, andGod, her mouth was dry.
Water. She needed a big, gigantic glass of water.
She opened one eye. Light streamed into her room from the crack between the curtains. Definitely morning.
She was about to climb out of bed when water on her bedside table caught her attention. Interesting. She didn’t usually sleep with water beside her bed.
She pushed up and lifted the glass, then drank half of it before noticing the note. A tingly sensation ran over her skin.
Slowly, she reached for it.
Morning, Clara. I hope you’re feeling okay. Drink lots of water and eat something, then text me to let me know you’re okay so I don’t worry all day. H.
And there went those butterflies in her belly.
Thiswas notthe distance she needed. Not even close.
She scrubbed her eyes, the previous night trickling back to her.
Laced brownies. Her roommate had made laced brownies. And she’d taken them to a gathering with people from the running club. People who Clara was pretty sure her roommate was investigating.
Why? To get information? Even if she was an undercover agent, that would get her fired. Even if it did get her the information she needed. The brownies had sure as hell made Clara loose-lipped last night.
She groaned as she swung her feet to the floor. She tested herself. Good. Her knees held her. She moved out of her bedroom and into the hall, stopping at the sight of folded sheets on the couch.
Had Holden stayed here for part of last night?
She was screwed. A whole Holden worth of screwed. There was no getting over the guy.
Why did he have to be so sweet and protective and cute while also being so adamant that they weren’t going to be together? She was being set up to fail.
With a sigh, she moved down the hall and knocked on her roommate’s door. When no noise sounded, she turned the handle and stepped inside. The room was dark, but she still spotted Scarlett hunched over her laptop at her desk, her back rising and falling in slow succession.
Jesus, that didn’t look comfortable. How long had she been asleep like that?
Clara reached a hand out to wake her, then stopped. If she woke Scarlett, her roommate would probably be tired and angry. AndClaraneeded to be the angry one for this conversation. She needed answers. A whole bucket worth of them.
