Unsure of where this was going, I held his gaze.
It was enough for him to understand. “I’ll sleep in my parents’ room.”
I pursed my lips with another silent question on the tip of my tongue.
“It’s just Kraven and me,” he reassured.
There was so much I wanted to confess, to ask, and I’d be lying ifI said I wasn’t surprised he wasn’t attempting to find out the very same information his brother sought.
Instead, he continued, “Feel free to use any of my clothes. Everything’s clean, too. And uhhh…” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Is he nervous?
“The bathroom is across the hall. There’s not much girl stuff in there, but I got you a few toiletries at the store. The towels are located under the sink. If you need anything else, please let me know. I can run out and get it for you.” He paused for a moment, giving me time to process everything he offered. “There are some snacks in the drawer of the right nightstand and there’s food in the pantry and fridge. You’re welcome to whatever. Anyway, we’re heading out to the subway on 8thStreet for the rest of the day. Sleep, eat, wash up, or whatever. You can relax here.”
Can I? Do I believe him?
My mind might have been conflicted, but my body didn’t miss a beat. My feet were about to run. To seek its own escape, protecting me from a future that would eventually destroy us all in ways we never could have imagined or predicted.
I should have left.
I should have hauled ass out of that house and never looked back.
I should have done something other than allowing him to grab my hand.
An electric current flicked through our skin like it did back at the subway when he first held my hand.
“Listen,” he insisted with sincerity in his tone. “You’re welcome to leave whenever you’re ready, and you can even leave now if you want. Nobody’s forcing you to stay.”
I fought against his words, not wanting to believe him.
To have hope.
To have faith.
To have friends…
It wasn’t something I ever envisioned.
As if reading my mind, he explained, “I don’t expect anything from you. You just look like you need a friend.”
My heart beat rapidly, and the longer I stood there not saying anything, the more I felt the truth of that statement.
I bowed my head, unable to look into the depths of his soul any longer. It was too confusing, and I was emotionally drained.
It wasn’t until he confessed, “I need a friend too,” that our eyes locked again.
A wave of overwhelming gratitude washed over me, leaving me feeling almost breathless and vulnerable. The world had only shown me cruelty, and this was the first time I experienced pure kindness from a stranger who hadn’t even asked me my name.
With my grip still holding his, I silently thanked him for everything. Squeezing his hand while my eyes brimmed with fresh tears, I fought back the unrelenting emotions he was stirring inside me as if they belonged to him.
I openly showed him a vulnerability I never shared with anyone, wanting him to know how much his compassion meant to me. I couldn’t stay there forever…
Yet there’d come a time when I’d never want to leave.
And not just because of Julius. He was only half the reason.
Half my heart.
