Yes. I love her. I've loved her since the moment we met.
Finally! All this beating around the bush is getting annoying.
Me? I’mgetting annoying?
I’ll overlook your tone because I know you’re hurting right now.
I need to get out of my room. It looks and smells too much like me.
I head out and first thing I see is her door, of course.
March your ass over there and explain. Tell her.
Nightmare’s right. I cross the hallway and knock lightly.
She’ll never hear that.
Good God, can you give me just one moment of peace?Nightmare is silent.Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Well, so much for quiet.
I knock again and there’s no answer. My stomach rumbles. Darla probably has supper ready by now. Chelsea might be eating without me.
It wouldn’t be a shock, that’s for sure.
I head to the kitchen, and on the way, the most delicious aroma wafts down the halls—savory with herbs.
Wonderful.
I enter the kitchen. “Darla, it smells like you’ve outdone?—”
Chelsea shuts the oven door and turns around. Her face is rigid, cheeks sucked in like she’s biting the inside of them.
Just looking at her makes my breath catch—her golden hair, her small frame, the tight set of her jaw.
She’s mine. All mine. And the thought of losing her makes something dark stir in my chest.
What have I done to deserve her?
Nothing. Not one damn thing,Nightmare remarks.You don’t deserve her.
It’s right about that.
“I gave Darla the night off.” She places the casserole on top of the counter and pulls oven mitts off her hands, dropping them beside it. “I didn’t think you’d mind. I told Nancy to go home, too.”
“And Stave?”
“Doesn’t he live here?”
“He does, but I get the feeling that wouldn’t stop you from telling him to leave.”
Nightmare heaves a sigh.You’re supposed to be apologizing. Not pissing her off more.
For a moment I think she’ll reply angrily, but then she huffs a laugh. “I was pretty close to telling him he could go.”
We stare at each other a beat and then we laugh. Nervously, testing the waters.
