Will he fall?
As he starts to descend, I hurry after him, my bare feet hardly making any sound. By the time I catch up to him, he makes it to the bottom and then strides toward the back patio door.
Oh my God. He’s going to go outside again.
I chase after him, surprised at how fast he moves for someone who’s asleep. As soon as he makes it to the back door, his fingers fly effortlessly over the keypad to disengage the alarm.
“Owen,” I hiss, grabbing hold of his hand.
He grunts and tries to mash in more numbers. I duck under his arm while keeping hold of it, putting myself between him and the door. His arm relaxes and I’m able to ease it back down to his side. Pale moonlight shines in through the window, highlighting his handsome features. It’s then I realize he’s shirtless.
Okay, wow.
For someone close to my mom’s age, he’s incredibly fit. I’ve never even been this close to a guy in such an intimate way,much less shirtless. Shoulder muscles seemingly carved of stone are an unexpected but beautiful sight. It makes my pulse thud out of control. His eyes are half-lidded and his mouth is slack. I long to see his warm smile.
“Owen,” I say again, voice low. “Wake up.”
His body inches closer, crowding me with his warmth. I sense he’s still asleep, still trying to get outside. I’m unsure what to do for him right now. Do I wake up his family? Wake up Mom?
I lift a hand and gently cup his cheek. “Owen, you need to go back to bed.”
He blinks a few times, and a dazed expression contorts his features. Then, his eyes drop to my lips. Forbidden heat curls in my lower belly.
Enough, Mei.
This is your mom’s husband for crying out loud.
“Come on,” I whisper, sliding my hand off his face so I can take hold of his hand. “Time for bed.”
He sort of stumbles as I push him back some. I grip his hand tight and tug him toward the stairs. Going back up is a slower process than coming down. My heart leaps into my chest multiple times when he trips over a step or two.
This is terrifying.
He’s so out of it and could hurt himself.
I guide him past the bedrooms toward his. Since I haven’t been in his room, only saw a bit of it on my tour earlier, I bump into a dresser in my effort to get him to his bed. Despite the throbbing in my hip now, I finally manage to get him over to it.
“Get in bed,” I murmur. “That’s it. Good job.”
He shuffles as he slides under the covers. As if he’s Penny, I pull them up to his chin and tuck him in. Before I can leave, his hand grabs my forearm sending a jolt of electricity through my nerves.
“Mei.”
The raspy, almost reverent way he says my name has me pausing. “Yes?”
“I’m…sorry.”
I cover his hand with my other one and give him a reassuring squeeze. “Go to sleep. You’re okay now.”
After I pry his hand off me, I wait for a beat. Seconds later, soft, rhythmic breathing fills the silent night air.
Relief floods through me knowing he’s back in bed rather than outside. I creep across his room, managing to sidestep the dresser corner this time, and close the door behind me. Maybe having it closed will deter him from another sleepwalking episode that takes him outside.
The exhaustion from my trip, the shocking news of my mom’s marriage and our move, and then this with Owen finally catches up to me. I crash hard the second my head hits the pillow. This time, I don’t lock the door. At least he’s safer in here than out there.
Mornings are lively and chaotic in the Monahan home. The frenzy of people rushing about, getting ready, snagging quick breakfasts, and locating their things to leave is oddly refreshing. Usually, Mom is headed out the door before I even wake up. Sometimes I manage to give Penny a kiss goodbye before they leave, but not always.
This morning, she and Penny are already gone, but the Monahans are dragging. Since Rhett and I don’t start back at college for a few days, we nurse our coffee at the dining room table, looking at our phones as we try to wake up.
