I tilt my head. “None of the above, and all of the above. But my life isn’t worth immortalizing.”
“You might believe that, but they say we all have one book inside us.”
“What would yours be about?”
He quirks a brow. “Is that your truth for today?”
“Sure.”
He drags his bottom lip between his teeth before releasing it. “Ex-military guy turned bodyguard gets betrayed.”
“How were you betrayed?”
“That’s another question.”
I huff. “Can you tell me how the story ends?”
“Only if you do.”
“My story ends with me living a quiet life surrounded by books and dogs.”
He pulls his glasses off and looks at me. “You are missing something.”
“Nope, I’m not. Books and dogs can’t hurt me.”
He sighs. “Not everyone is out to hurt you, Cleo. But you have to give people a chance and let them in.”
I shake my head as tears sting my eyes, and a lump lodges in my throat. “I can’t.”
He stands and rounds the bed so he’s looking down at me. He slides a phone from his pocket and places it on a wireless charger he must have set up earlier.
I chew the inside of my cheek, not trusting myself to speak. He reaches out and tucks a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. “Only you have the power to change your narrative, Cleo. The life you deserve is there for the taking. You just have to be brave enough to reach for it.”
Then he sweeps out of the room, leaving me with my book, his dog, and a yearning for that future I haven’t let myself dare to imagine.
A few hours later,I give up reading and let Duke out for his final bathroom trip. He decides to make himself comfy on the sofa, keeping an eye on us both. I lock up the house before escaping to my bed.
I toss and turn for two hours, my mind processing the seductive words, and the promise of something more.Do you dare to dream?plays in my head over and over again.
My phone vibrates on the table next to me. My eyes fly open as its glow illuminates the room. Who the hell is messaging me? I’ve not had a phone for months, which means it can only be one person.
There’s no name attached to the message, just the fox emoji. Cute.
Fox
Go to sleep.
Cleo
It’s not like I’m not trying.
Fox
Try harder. I can hear you thinking.
Cleo
You can’t hear people think.
