“Do you have to work in the morning?” he asked with a whisper.
“No,” I whispered back.
“Good. You can sleep as long as you like.”
Enoch’s arm reached out but stopped halfway to my body and he dropped it back onto the mattress.
“I’ve got church in the morning,” my heart stopped, “at 9:30. You’re welcome to come with us or I can drop you at home.”
I forced myself to breathe normally.It’s not the same church. They don’t have a congregation here in Anchorage. Stop freaking out.
“Church?”
“Yeah. I know it’s different, they worship on the sabbath, Saturday. But I’ve really enjoyed my time since I started going.”
I pulled my hair off of my neck, sweat starting to tickle the base of my skull. I never thought I’d step foot in another church, not after Reformation.
“No pressure. You can decide in the morning, okay?”
I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Sure. Night, Enoch.”
“Goodnight, Emory.”
I realized that was the first time he’d called me Emory all night and a sudden longing had my eyes stinging. I missed my old name. I missed the sound of his voice and the way the letters rolled off his tongue. The only time I ever loved my name was when he said it.
I was always adamant that Shiloh was buried and finished, but hearing my old name so much the last two weeks made my heart ache for that part of me I didn’t choose to give up. I was and always would be Shiloh Magdalena, if only I could have kept my name.
Fifteen
July 4, Saturday
Emory
My eyes slowly blinked open, and I stretched my body out with a groan. It took a moment to realize that I wasn’t in my own home, and another moment to wrack my brain as to where the hell I was. Something brushed my leg, and I rolled over with a start.
“Fuck. You scared me,” I mumbled under my breath as I looked up at Enoch.
“Sorry,” he said with a light squeeze of my leg. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and after taking a good look at him, I realized he was fully dressed in a pair of olive chinos and a sweater and collared shirt.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to get my mind to fully wake up. “What time is it? Are you leaving for church?”
Enoch chuckled and shook his head. “It’s almost one in the afternoon. I just got home. Have you not been up yet?”
I blinked slowly, trying to process his words.The hell?I slept for well over twelve hours.
“No. I just woke up.”
“Well, I bet you’re starving. Come out when you’re ready and I’ll heat up some lunch.”
I quickly used the bathroom and brushed my teeth before making my way out to the kitchen. Enoch and Jae were chatting to each other at the kitchen island but stopped when they saw me.
“Morning,” Jae called with a wave.
I studied his expression, searching for any sign of disgust or hatred, but there was none.
“Afternoon,” I finally said.
Jae chuckled and took a sip of the drink in his hand.
