“My mom’s cabin is empty,” I offer. “I can run in and grab our things.”
She nods, and I quickly make my way inside, tossing our stuff into our bags, and hauling them back to the Jeep.
The cabin is dark as we make our way inside before Mira clicks on the lamp by the couch. I set down our bags and slip off my suit jacket, wincing when my swollen hand catches on the fabric.
“You need ice,” Mira says, wrapping her fingers against my bruised knuckles.
“I’ll be okay,” I promise, but it doesn’t stop her from going to look inside the freezer.
She hands me a towel full of ice, and I place it against my knuckles, the tendons already tightening. She leans against the wall across from me, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.
“Do you mind if I go upstairs? I think I just want to go to bed.”
“I’ll go with you,” I say, picking up our bags and following her up the stairs. The bed is still made, the plaid comforter is perfectly tucked in on the sides, and I doubt my mother’s head ever graced the pillow.
“Do you want to take a shower? I bet they have hot water.”
“I just want to sit here for a minute,” she says, leaning towards me and burying her head in my chest. I thread my hands in her hair, massaging the space around her temples until she lets out a soft purr of contentment and safety.
“What do you need?” I ask, willing to give her the world.
“I don’t know, sleep maybe,” she says, picking at the fabric at her knees.
The dress is stained, little droplets of water or wine dotting the fabric, and she places her hands in her lap. The straps of the shoulders have already left marks against her skin, and I know she can’t be comfortable.
“You can’t sleep in that dress.” I dig through her bag hoping to find pajamas, but I spot a familiar piece of fabric bunched up inside. It’s my Shire shirt, the one I gave her to wear the night shecame to my apartment. I can’t believe she brought it with her. I hold it up, showing it to her as she gives me a sheepish smile.
“I didn’t have much time to pack,” she says, reaching for it.
The straps of her dress have fallen over her shoulders, the delicate gold fabric glowing against her skin, as she moves her hair to the side.
“Can you?” she asks, turning her back to me.
My fingers glide along the zipper, my knuckles skimming the pale skin of her back, and she lets the dress fall to the ground.
And although I’ve longed to get her out of that dress all night, watching her slide my favorite shirt over her skin, knowing that her body is pressing against the fabric I’ve worn my entire life, feels more intimate. Her dark hair falls over her shoulders in heavy waves as she climbs into bed. I lay the blanket over her, tucking it in on the sides. I want to lie down beside her, to feel her warmth, to memorize the sound of her breath, but after everything she’s told me, I don’t want to overstep.
“I can sleep on the couch,” I offer, but I’m grateful when she reaches for me.
“Stay, please.”
“As you wish.”
She offers me a weak smile before I kick off my shoes and find my place beside her. She cuddles into my chest, her head resting just below my chin, and I wrap my arms around her. I breathe her in, kissing the top of her head as we lie together.
“You didn’t have to hit him,” she whispers, and her fingertips graze over the bruised skin on my knuckles.
I move a stray hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “It was about time Grant learned that his actions have consequences.”
“Like hooking up with Katherine?”
I reposition myself so I can see her face. “I’m pissed he did that to Meredith. She doesn’t deserve that. But honestly, I punchedhim because he hurt you. He might not have done it on purpose but ...” I trail off. “It’s one thing to have him inflict pain onto me but I won’t have him do it to the people I love.”
The word hangs in the air between us for a moment as I wait for her response. I know she heard my speech earlier and we never really had a chance to talk about how she felt about it.
“Love?” she asks, carefully, scooting closer, even though there is no space left between us.
“I think I’ve been in love with you for a while now,” I say, the words tumbling out of my mouth.
