With the way she tenses, I know there’s something she’s hiding. And I need to know what it is, but I don’t want Asher to wake up and interrupt. I’m sure Rae would happily take the distraction, but I need to know what’s going on.
Carefully, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and turn to take her hand in mine and pull her from the bed with me. She looks back at Asher before standing up, and we’re both careful to be quiet as I hold her hand the entire walk out of her room. I don’t let go of her as we walk downstairs, I grab a thick blanket from her couch before leading her out to the back patio.
It may not have been the best idea because the air is freezing, and I’m only in my sweatpants and she’s in a large T-shirt, but between body heat and the blanket I’m sure it’ll be okay. I want a moment with just the two of us for a few minutes.
We settle on the outdoor sectional she has out here; pulling Rae between my legs to settle her in my lap and wrap us in the blanket that’s thankfully extremely warm. Or maybe it’s because she’s here on my lap that I feel like I could overheat. Either way, I don’t want to move.
“Tell me what’s going on,” I encourage, knowing that it’s helpful for her to be looking out to the trees that surround her house rather than me.
“It’s nothing, Gray,” she insists, but it’s weak. I know when she’s hiding something.
“You’ve never been good at lying.”
She starts to run her fingers lightly over my forearm that’swrapped around her under the blanket. The soft touch is calming, and almost enough to distract me, but I refuse to let it. Whatever is going on with her I need to know.
“It’s really nothing,” she tries again, continuing to graze her fingertips over my skin.
“If it’s bothering you then it’s definitely something.”
Rae sighs, and I think she’s going to deny it again, but when she speaks, I have to fight the way I tense because I don’t want her to stop sharing once she opens up.
“Someone has been sending me things.” Her voice is quiet.
“What kind of things?”
“Flowers, and then I haven’t opened anything else.”
“Do you know who it could be?” I ask, gritting my teeth, but not wanting her to shut down because how angry I am at the thought of someone stalking her.
“No,” she whispers.
I want her to look at me; I need to see her face and know that she’s safe with me.
“Look at me, Sunshine.”
She hesitates for a moment before turning to look up at me over her shoulder. Her eyes shine with unshed tears and I can’t take it. I guide her to turn around in my lap while staying under the blanket.
Cupping her face, I keep her eyes on me. “Whoever it is isn’t going to get away with it. You’re safe with me, and as much as I hate to admit it, you’re safe with Asher too.”
She huffs out a small laugh at that comment, and I feel some of the tension leave her body. “I know I am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I stroke my thumbs across her cheeks.
“I didn’t want you to worry.” She admits. “I just really wanted it to go away.”
“I know, Sunshine.”
I swallow roughly, looking at her like this, feeling the shift in our relationship and everything that’s happened has me wantingto confess everything I’m feeling. I want her to know I love her, more than just a friend. That I can’t see my life without her. That I’m in this for real for as long as she’ll have me. That I’m so desperately in love with her that I don’t know what to do with myself when we’re apart. She’s truly my other half, and I need her to know.
When I open my mouth to confess everything the door behind us opens, and I swing around on edge that somehow, we made her stalker appear. But Asher leans against the open door with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you trying to give yourselves hypothermia?” he questions.
“We both were practically born in an ice rink, the cold is a part of us.” I narrow my eyes at him.
Rae giggles, dropping her forehead onto my chest. “We should go back inside.”
I grumble, not wanting to give up this moment, but I’m sure she’s done with the conversation. Especially when she stands up, pulling me with her and keeping us both wrapped in the blanket. But it’s when she shivers, I know we really should go inside.
