Page 101 of My Damaged Protector

Damn it. How long am I expected to overlook it and not ask any questions?

Then an idea hits me.

I regard Sheila with my best puppy look.

“No,” she says before I even open my mouth.

“You haven't even heard what I have to say.”

“I don't have to. I am not getting in the middle of both of you.”

Isn't that what she is already doing?

“Sheila please, I won't tell her. I just need to know how bad it is.”

She smiles at my words, her hand going to her door as she takes some steps back into her room. I think she's going to slam the door in my face, but she doesn’t.

“It's not bad news at all, Ian. It's good news. But it's not my news to share, and until she's willing to share it with you, I'm afraid we'll both have to respect her wishes. But do you want myhonest advice? Stay around. She's going to get tired of keeping it from you eventually if you stay and show her that you'll keep loving her regardless of whatever she's keeping from you. Goodnight.”

Dazed, I watch the door start to close until I remember something. I quickly hold my hand to stop her.

“Wait!” I whisper hurriedly. She stops closing the door and looks at me through the small space left. “Can you help me tell her to close her windows? I can't go there right now. I need to think.”

“Sure,” she says.

I nod and walk back into the living room. I hear her door open only a few seconds later, after I've sat down, and another door after that.

Hushed voices travel down the hall, but I can’t hear what they're saying. Soon, I hear the consequent sounds of two doors closing before the whole house is washed over with silence.

I remain seated, thinking about the discussion I just had with Sheila.

Can I truly let not knowing her secret go?

I suppose I could, seeing as I've been contemplating for a while now.

Sheila also said it's good news. It makes me wonder why she doesn't want to tell me. Maybe she doesn't want to jinx it?

I stand up, walking around the room to keep my eyes from closing. The day’s stress is finally getting to me.

Pacing around the not small yet not big space in the living room, I look around for anything to keep me busy.

Thinking is driving me wild, and I don't need that right now. I need my head right so I don't fall asleep.

My eyes eventually land on a book, and I immediately pick it up. I'm not surprised when I see it's a book by Sarah. It saysthe book was published only three months ago, which means it's probably her recent work.

I open it, smiling at the prospect of reading, but nature wins over even before I get halfway through the book.

I'm awoken to the sound of something I don't know. Like a clang or rattling sound of irons. Pushing to my feet, I pull my phone out of my pocket to see the time. I've only been asleep for thirty minutes tops. I checked the time not so long ago.

Walking around the room, I decide to look out the windows, and if there's no sign of threat, I can just allow myself to sleep.

The moment I start toward the biggest window and the only one I left open, rustling sounds come from behind it. When I'm closer, I see a shadow running off into the night, and I immediately open the door to chase whoever it is. By the time I make it to the front of the yard, the sound of a car engine starting fills the quiet air of the night.

All I have to do is go to where the sound is coming from. I immediately recognize the car.

It's Peter's.

Just like I'd feared, he came.

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