Colin’s nodded off by the time I get out of the shower and lie down beside him.He blinks, opens his eyes a crack, rolls over toward me, and then he’s asleep again.
He’s not moving now.
He sighs gently and a throbbing starts between my thighs.The weight of his sleeping body settles over me, like a warm blanket.His chest rises and falls against my back, slowly andevenly.I don’t need to see his face to know that it’s relaxed.Must be thanks to the jet lag, because earlier he was so tense that I was sure he wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight.Mind you, now I’m scared that that fate will befall me instead.
The journey was exhausting.It’s now three in the morning in Scotland, and I’m tired, but I’m nervous too.I’m lying in Colin’s arms in a strange bed.In a strange apartment.In a strange city.
We were all alone here earlier; he showed me his room, then came to mine while I had a shower, but after a while, I hear Colin’s mother and sister get in.The guest room door is closed, it’s late, and nobody disturbs us, but I still feel like an unwelcome visitor.Colin’s mother wasn’t unfriendly to me, but she wasn’t exactly gushing either.I hate the idea that Colin and Cleo grew up like this.That nobody ever gave them a hug just because.That nobody tells them how amazing they are.I know Colin tells Cleo, to make up for it, but he’s human too, and he deserves affection.
I interlace my fingers with his and hold tight to his hand.I’m glad that he’s joined us at Dunbridge.At a place where people are nice to each other and can feel welcome.He belongs there, and I really hope he’ll manage to convince his parents to send Cleo to our school too.God knows what will happen after what he’s planning to do.
I barely know Colin’s parents, so I can’t tell how they’ll react to him going to the police.They might threaten not to pay his school fees anymore, but if they do, we’ll find a way.Colin is—surprisingly—a bright lad.I could hardly believe it, but hisgrades are on a Henryesque level, and that’s saying something.If push comes to shove, we can ask Mrs.Sinclair about a scholarship.And Colin’s an adult now.He’ll be able to live his own life.Once he’s without the people who have never shown him what love is, they’ll never be able to hurt him again.Never.
35
Olive
I must have fallen asleep eventually because, after a while, I wake up.I’m lying on my front and no longer in Colin’s arms.He’s propped himself on his elbows beside me and is doodling little patterns on my back.So gently that that can’t have been what woke me.
All the same, he stops when I move and lays his hand on my head.But I’m awake.Properly refreshed, even.
And so’s he—I can see that as I squint over to him.
“Good morning,” I whisper, my voice rough with sleep.
“Hello.”His smile is tense, which I can understand.He must have been thinking about what lies ahead of him.
“What’s the time?”
“Guess,” he says.
“Ten?”
Colin laughs quietly.“It’s four o’clock.”
I sit up.“In the afternoon?”
“No, four in the morning.”
“No way.”I feel wide awake and fully rested.It can’t be true, but Colin shrugs.
“You’ve got jet lag to thank for that one.Your head thinks it’s nine a.m.”
“How long have you been awake?”I ask.
“Dunno.Half an hour, maybe,” he mutters evasively.Definitely longer than that, then.So much for me being glad he was able to sleep.
“How are you doing?”
The question still stresses him, that’s no secret, but I won’t stop asking it.Especially not now that Colin’s genuinely trying to answer honestly.
“I’m scared.”
“That makes sense.”
Colin shuts his eyes.“I wish I could just go to the cops right now and get it over with.”
“Let’s go, then.”
