“Together?”
“Wouldn’t dream otherwise,” Enzo laughed, forcing a happiness that he didn’t feel into his voice.
I let it keep me grounded as I rested. It was the only thing I physically could do, since we were locked in the basement of Steven’s house. By the time Steven would demand our attention, there would be hell to pay.
Ryker
“Y
ou look well rested.” Scarlett’s sarcasm was duly noted.
“Not all of us are morning people,” I grunted, letting her in.
“It’s two in the afternoon.”
I only shrugged.
“Tell me what happened.”
I motioned to the kitchen, where I had left my third cup of coffee on the counter. I hoped the ringing of the doorbell hadn’t woken Emery, since he finally seemed to have stopped tossing and turning.
“Emery woke with a migraine in the middle of the night.”
“I take it he’s still sleeping?”
“I think so.” I shut one eye, thinking. “He was when I last checked on him.” Not to mention, he talked in his sleep. A lot.
“I can find someone else to stay with him,” Scarlett said, not beating around the bush.
“Hell no.” The words were rushed out. “He can stay. For however long he wants. I’m not passing him off to someone else from just one bad night. Or however many more nights that will be the same.”
“You mean it?” Emery’s quiet voice made me turn. His eyes were wide, filled with a tiny bit of hope.
“Of course. I wouldn’t say it otherwise.”
“Okay.” He nodded, letting the words soak in. “Even though I killed…” He couldn’t bring the name past his lips.
I sat my mug back on the counter and then took, slow measured steps towards him.
“Did you want to kill him?” A shake of his head.
I laid both of my hands on his head lightly. If Emery wanted to step away, he’d easily be able to do so.
“You’re welcome here for however long you wish.”
His shoulders relaxed, as if that had been the issue all along. Maybe it was for just a moment. “My house is your house. I won’t force you to stay, but I will also never make you leave if you don’t want to.”
I felt a connection to him, one that I didn’t know how to explain, but it wasn’t something I was going to just throw away.
“I want to see you happy. I may mess up, and you’ll have to tell me when I do. But I want to be your friend.”
“Okay.” He blinked. A moment later, he pressed his face against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him, letting him have all the comfort he could ever desire.
“How’s your head?”
“Better. Just tired.”
I pulled back, smiling as he pouted. “Can you eat?”
