“I... I’m sorry Nick. I don’t know what to say. Maybe Ididdream it?”
“Shh. It’s not important right now. All that matters is that you’re safe.”
But I’m not.
“Thanks for checking things out,” I say, backing out of his embrace. “I appreciate you humoring me.”
“No humoring was involved. If you ever need help, I’m right next door.”
I try to smile, but it falls flat.
“Maybe for the rest of the night you shouldn’t be alone? Is there anyone you could call to stay with you?”
I shake my head. “I’m good. I’ll likely not sleep anyway.”
He frowns. “You sure? I can stick around if that’ll help you sleep.”
That is the absolute last thing that’s happening. The sooner I get him out of my house, the better.
“Not necessary. But thank you. You’ve been great.”
He inhales harshly, pursing his lips like he might debate my decision, but in the end, he exhales and nods. “I’ll leave my number here,” he says, pulling the pad of paper toward him andjotting down his digits. “If you need anything, call. I don’t care what time.”
“I will. Thank you.”
I won’t, and we both know it.
He heads to the door, looking back once more and offering a small smile. “Try to get some rest.”
My lips lift at the corners in the fakest smile I can muster as I shut the door on Nick and this disaster of a night.
SUNLIGHT STREAMS INthrough the window and I sigh in relief, knowing a new day is here and I wasn’t murdered by a ghost in my sleep. Somehow, the exhaustion pulled me under, and if the clock is correct, I’ve slept half the day away.
I think I dreamed Ava’s voice too until she calls out again.
“Mom!”
“I’m up here,” I yell out, trying to pull myself together and muster the energy to sit up.
My door flies open and Ava bursts in, looking confused.
I’m sure she is, considering the only times I’ve ever slept until noon, I was fighting a virus from hell or depression from the accident.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, coming to the side of the bed and taking a seat.
“The better question is, What are you doing here?” I say, voice full of sleep. “How did you get home?”
Her hand comes to my forehead, and I bat it away.
“I wanted to come yesterday, but I had exams. Aunt Lanie arranged to pick me up early this morning.”
“She what?” I spring up, nearly knocking her off the edge.
Ava’s large hazel eyes, which match her father’s, go wide as shegrabs hold of the comforter. “Calm down, Mom. She has the clearance. You gave it to her.”
And I’m currently regretting giving Lanie Anderson any modicum of control where Ava is concerned.
When Garrett died, I needed help and Lanie and Nina stepped up. With both of Garrett’s parents gone, and his sister and my parents halfway across the US, I made both of my friends emergency contacts for the school and got clearance for them to act on my behalf in all matters pertaining to Ava and her education.
