Page 109 of Bloom: Part 1

“Promise me.” His hand circled my wrist. “If anything happens to you, I couldn’t bear it, Bloom.”

“All right.”

“I just need a power nap. Nothing more, so don’t let me sleep for more than half an hour. Then I’ll keep watch so you can get some sleep too.”

30

BLOOM

Ihad my eyes closed, but I wasn’t asleep. I was antsy, too afraid of acting out in my dreams and drawing attention to us, so when it was Logan’s time to keep watch, I lay still, feigning unconsciousness. If we didn’t have to move until morning, that would be best. I’d expected movements on this wing already, even if it was unoccupied. Why had no one come searching for us? Did they think we’d found a way out? What the hell was going on? The last time I’d turned my phone on and messaged Crowe, he’d replied that nothing had changed. The police hadn’t made a move for fear of more people ending up dead.

We couldn’t stay in this room for long. Although we’d snuck out once to use the bathroom and get most of the grime off us, we hadn’t dared to venture too far to find food. Sooner or later, we had to move.

Logan heaved a sigh. What was he thinking about? He no longer seemed upset about my confession, but he was quiet. If he had second thoughts about us, what would I do? Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut, but if I ended up dead and he escaped,I didn’t want him to doubt how I felt about him, so I’d thought it better to explain.

If only I were better at reading people.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” he asked gruffly.

“It’s November. I’m afraid.” I’d started this honesty thing, so I might as well stick to it to the end.

“Of what?”

“The nightmares. If I have one of my night terrors, I might alert someone.”

“What if I wake you up at the first signs of one coming on?”

“It’s okay. I’m not that tired anyway.”

Silence stretched between us. What if this was my last night with him? Was this how he would remember me? As the guy who told him he’d been second best for a while?

“Don’t you think it’s odd no one has come this way yet?” Logan asked.

“Yeah. What do you think happened?”

“Seems like they’re no longer searching for us. But why?”

I shrugged. “Whatever it is, let’s consider ourselves lucky. For now.”

I should leave him to scout the area, but I didn’t want him out of my sight. When we tried to escape, hell would break loose. For now, I wanted to pretend we were safe and didn’t have anything to worry about.

“Logan.”

“Hmm?”

“Tell me something about your childhood.”

“My childhood?”

“Yes.” I threw one leg over him and set my chin on his chest. “Do you have a family? What are they like? What kind of kid were you? Were you into sports or what? Who was your best friend?” I wanted to know everything in case I wouldn’t get the chance to.

His heartbeat quickened, each beat drumming against my ear. He was silent, absentmindedly stroking my back. I liked it when he did that—touch me without being aware he was doing it.

He let out a soft sigh. “I am an only child.”

“Like me. Did you want siblings?”

“Yeah, I did.”

---