8
GRACEN
Something pulls me from sleep.I float around in that dead place for a second, my subconscious trying to pull me under again, but knowing that something woke me up. Just as sleep is beginning to win the tug of war, I hear it again. My doorbell.
This time, I’m yanked from sleep, though I don’t move at first. I’m facing my phone on my nightstand, which always has the time on display. It’s minutes before midnight. My phone doesn’t show that I’ve missed any phone calls or text messages.
The doorbell rings two more times in rapid succession.
I push myself up and head downstairs, curious, concerned, and, yeah, a little annoyed. I flick the hall light on, but leave the living room light off as I pull the door open.
I’m shocked to find Malin standing there. There are motion sensor lights on the front porch, so he’s illuminated. He’s in sleep pants and a long-sleeved shirt, his hair ruffled. There are bags under his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my mind racing a hundred miles a minute. “What happened?”
“I’m so tired,” he says and sways on his feet.
Okay, I’m not sure where to go with that. I might have come up with something to say if I were awake, but my brain isn’t fully online yet.
“I’m sorry,” Malin says. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Did something happen at home?”
His eyebrows knit together. “No.” He shakes his head, which proves too much, and he stumbles a little.
“Come in,” I say.
Malin closes the distance immediately and presses his face into my chest. My processing time is slow, so for a moment, I just stand there. Stunned.
He sighs, his body relaxing against me. It takes me a couple beats before I wrap my arms around him, but when I do, he snuggles right into my hold. He must feel the way my heart races.
“I’m so tired,” he whispers again.
The door is still open, so I’m staring into the darkness beyond my deck. Nothing but trees. I chose this cabin because of the orientation of the doors and windows. I don’t see the driveway from any of the places I might relax or be working in the kitchen. It’s all trees and nature. Birds. Peaceful solitude while being just a short walk away from the next cabin.
I’m the only one residing in the cabins right now, so it’s truly just me on this part of the property. A mile or so south will lead meto the intersection where Noaz’s house is tucked into the trees. While the road to the cabins ends at the one just beyond mine, if it continued north, it would lead into the refuge that Jalon bought ten or so years ago, which now has the school on it.
But right now, I see nothing but shadows. The motion light clicks off, and the trees begin to make dark silhouettes.
I shut the door and then, once more, don’t move. “What do you need?”
This time, I’m anticipating his answer. “I’m tired,” he murmurs, already half asleep.
“The guest room—” My words cut off when his entire body tenses. Okay. “Want to come upstairs with me?”
Malin nods but makes no effort to walk further into the house.
“Want me to carry you?” I mean it teasingly, but he nods.
Well, okay then. I adjust him and scoop his legs up. Malin sighs, keeping his face pressed to my shoulder. He’s deceptively light. For another moment, I simply stand in the living room with Malin in my arms.
There’s a good chance I’m dreaming. This is a very strange turn of events that could only happen in my dreams. However, we’re both tired, even if I’m asleep. So I turn and head for the bedroom, flicking the light off in the hall with my elbow on the way by.
I carefully lay him on the bed and adjust the blankets around him.
“Where are you going?” Malin asks. His voice is upset.
“Just to the other side of the bed.”
