Page 30 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

“It’s been a long-ass day. You have to be exhausted,” he said.

“I am, but also weirdly wired. Like all this nervous energy is swirling inside me, refusing to let me relax.”

“I experience those feelings, too. Usually that’s when Boo and I take a walk or play with his toys. Focusing on him helps calm me down and forget my troubles for a while. But since he’s not here…” he gave an exaggerated shrug, “We’ve got to think of another solution.”

Her mind went back to the night before. All she’d needed to calm her down was Dean’s body snuggled close to hers, but no way was she about to suggest he hold her in his bed all night. “Got any ideas?”

He swished his mouth to the side and a glint of mischief sparked in his eyes. “Want to play cards?”

“Cards?” she asked, raising her brows.

“Why not? It’ll take our focus off the awful day we just survived and help us unwind.”

Cards weren’t exactly her thing. Growing up, family night was a staple in her house, but her parents had been more into board games. She bit into her bottom lip, considering her options. She could lay awake and wait for sleep to come, her mind working over every detail of the last couple of days. Or she could fumble her way through whatever Dean wanted to play until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer.

“Okay, on two conditions.” She lifted two fingers to emphasize her demands.

He chuckled, the sound flowing over her like cashmere. “Lay them on me.”

“You provide some salty snacks, and I get a few minutes to put on more comfortable clothes.”

“Two very reasonable requests. I’ll get the snacks ready while you do whatever it is you need to do. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

She waited for him to leave and shut the door before digging through her bag for the clothes she’d packed. She found the red and black checked pants and buttery soft long sleeved sleep shirt. They might not be the cutest pajama set she owned, but she couldn’t care less. She craved comfort, any way she could get it.

Once she was dressed, she made a pitstop in the bathroom. She finger-combed her long tresses until she’d loosened out the knots, making the waves look more intentional and less like a rat’s nest. She debated adding a touch of lip gloss but decided against it. She didn’t want Dean to think she was trying to turn his head.

Shutting off the light, she scooped up her phone from the nightstand and headed to the kitchen. Quiet music wafted from a Bluetooth speaker on the counter. A bowl of popcorn sat on the table with two tall glasses of water.

Dean stood facing the microwave, waiting for the timer to reach zero.

“Making more popcorn?” she asked, settling into one of the chairs at the table.

The microwave beeped and he pulled out a large mug. “Chamomile tea,” he said, carefully setting it in front of her. “I noticed you and Jenna like to drink it sometimes. Thought it might help you relax.”

Her insides turned to mush. “Thank you.”

He flashed her a shy smile then rifled through a drawer by the fridge. He faced her with a triumphant gleam in his eyes and pack of cards in his hands. “Are you ready for this?”

“UNO?” she asked, bursting into laughter. “I thought you’d want to play poker or blackjack. Something where you can swindle me out of money and taunt my lack of skill.”

Pressing a hand to his heart, mock outrage took over his face. “Is that what you think of me? I’d take advantage of you and steal your money? No way, ma’am. Gambling of any kind is illegal in the great state of Tennessee. UNO is my game of choice. Can you handle it?”

She couldn’t help but absorb his enthusiasm. “I live with a six-year-old, and I just so happen to be the UNO champion in our house. Buckle up, my friend.”

Dean chuckled and sat across the table with a giant mug of his own. He shuffled the deck and passed out the cards.

Amusement curved her lips. She gathered her cards and arranged them in her hand by color then number. “I didn’t take you for a tea drinker.” She nodded toward the blue ceramic mug.

“I’m not. That’s a hot toddy.” He dipped his chin toward the steam billowing from his drink. “Whisky helps calm me down a little more than leaf water.”

She snorted out a laugh. “Fair point.”

Dean rearranged his cards in his hands. “You can play first.”

She selected the correct color and tossed it on the pile. “I can’t remember the last time I got to take the first turn. Jimmy always finds some reason or excuse to jump the line. Mila and I don’t care though. We’ll let him go first every time if it means getting him away from the television to actually spend time with us. Maybe I’ll see if Mila and Jimmy want to play tomorr?—”

Reality crashed down, stealing all the air from her lungs. As much as she’d love to lose herself in a silly game of cards, it wasn’t possible to place her worries to the side. The best she could hope was biding time until her eyes were too heavy to keep open.

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