“Okay.” She glances toward the window, chewing on her bottom lip. With storm clouds surrounding us, it looks like evening outside. That means another dark night, which is what she dreads.
“Rib eye okay?” I ask, looking down at the app.
“Yes, if it’s not too big.” She shrugs. “I’m not a big eater.”
I smile, remembering how we destroyed breakfast. Then again, we’d burned a lot of calories. “You’re going to need a lot of energy.”
Her gaze shoots to me, her lips twitching in a shy smile. “Rib eye, steamed broccoli, and a baked potato.”
“Better.” I make my selections then send the order, adding a fat tip for the driver, then head to the bathroom. It’s as dark as I’d expected.
I turn on the phone’s flashlight so I have a backup. Once I set it on the counter, face up, I pull a shopping bag from under the cabinet, careful to keep quiet. The corner of the plastic bag tears away easily. I empty the contents onto the counter then do the same with the second pack.
Picking up some of the larger pieces, I turn and close the lid on the toilet.
Chapter 16
Nicole
Rain lashes against the windows, darkening the sky as the latest report request downloads on my laptop. I sigh, the storm matching my mood after failing to make any headway.
Derrick walks away, disappearing into the bedroom. I get as far as putting the data into a pivot table before the power blinks then goes out. Another sigh escapes me. The dark clouds have turned late afternoon into night.
“Nicole,” Derrick’s voice carries from the other room.
Thunder rumbles through, hard enough to shake the windowpanes. I drag in a long breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs.It’ll be okay.
“Be right there,” I call back, sounding a little unsteady. I click the save button, watching the process complete before I make my way in his direction. There’s no way I’m going to risk losing everything again.
Now that I’ve run out of excuses, I hesitantly make my way across the hall. I peek into the bedroom, still faintly illuminated through the large window, finding it empty. Where is he?
I glance toward the bathroom, noticing the door is ajar. Pulling my lower lip over my teeth, I take a cautious step in that direction. What’s he up to? I curl my fingers into my palm. “You okay?”
“Yep,” he replies from inside. He pulls the door open, shining the light from the flashlight. “Bring the mask and come here.”
The shock of the statement has my body clenching in places I don’t want to think about. I’m on autopilot as I turn, going around the bed to pick up the mask from the end table.
Legs more than a little unsteady, I approach the bathroom, a sliver of dread trying to creep up my back. Derrick comes out of the bathroom to stand in front of me. He pushes a stray curl behind my ear. “Put the mask on.”
With him in front of me, towering over me, I’m compelled to follow instructions. I bring the mask up, pulling it over my head. I have a moment to catch a hint of a smile on his face before I set the mask in place.
Where am I?His voice echoes through my mind.
Derrick takes my hand, urging me forward, into the bathroom. I take a deep breath.It’ll be okay.He squeezes my fingers.It’ll be okay.
“Be careful with the doorway,” he warns.
I cling to Derrick’s hand, letting him lead me into the darkness.
My brain keeps reminding me I’m going into the smallest room in the apartment. The one without a window. The one that left me too terrified to move. Part of me just wants to turn and walk away, but that would hurt whatever this is between us.
There’s plenty of air.
My breaths come faster. My imagination transports me back to the moment the world went dark.
Derrick’s thumb brushes across my wrist. “I’m right here,” he says, his voice a soothing balm I didn’t know I needed. It’s almost as if he could tell where my mind was drifting. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.