Page 85 of Splintered Hearts

I nearly groan, nodding.

Up ahead I see exactly who I’m after. “One sec.” Taking my bag of food, I catch the man I’d seen sleeping against the side of a building going into an alleyway. Down a bit further, I can see this stranger’s things laid out.

I give him the food and he thanks me as I reach into my wallet, grabbing some cash. Bri always gives me shit for carrying so much, but it’s not as if I ever go anywhere, and now I’m grateful I can give the man three hundred and twenty dollars. “It’s allI have, I’m sorry.” The man thanks me, disbelief in his bleary eyes as he squeezes my hand tight. “Have a good night. If you go down to the library, tell the director—her name is Lia—that Jamie sent you. She’ll help you out.”

There are plenty of resources the library offers, and I hope he takes my advice before the sharp chill of winter hits. “Have a good night. Thank you,” he says.

I turn back to Noah and he just stares at me, confusion splayed across his pretty features. “Come on.”

Threading his arm through mine, we walk, and it gets harder and harder to ignore the throb of pain as it caresses my spine. Noah stops suddenly. I’m confused at what he’s doing until he engulfs me in a hug. Ignoring my pain, I take him in my arms, hugging him back. “Thank you so much for tonight.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to distract myself. Kissing the side of his head, I smile down at him, and a feeling I haven’t felt in so long punches me in the gut. It feels a little familiar.

It feels a lot like love.

Twenty One

Jamie

Blinking one eye open, I look around for a moment, confused.

Baby-blue sheets. Plush, coffee-colored comforter.

Okay, not my bed then.

Even though it’s been nearly two weeks since Noah’s failed date with fake-cop Ben, it still jars me every morning when I wake up in his bed. We haven’t hooked up at all. Haven’t even kissed.

Yet every night, I find some excuse to end up in his bed, in his arms. I just sleep better next to him. I’m fully comfortable with this newfound codependency. The first night this happened, I’d been pacing the halls, not able to close my eyes, seeing... her.

Broken and bloody.

Noah had stormed out of his room, practically grabbing me and forcing me into his bed to sleep. Then the next night, and the next. Before long it was just expected that I’d end up in bed with him. Sometimes Noah would read, or listen to an audio while I slept in his arms. Sometimes he’d tell me about his stories or rant about the characters not behaving like they should.

It’s become a routine I crave.

Reaching out my hand, I don’t feel Noah next to me.

Where is he? Looking at his clock, I check the time.

Seven fucking thirty.

Who in their right mind—Noah’s door swings open. The man in question hums happily before he sees I’m awake, lying on mystomach, still buried in his sheets and scent.

“Morning, gorgeous.”

Like always, Noah’s compliments roll off his tongue with ease. They never stick anywhere meaningful. Noah loves to tease and flirt. It’s just who he is.

It isn’t about me.

“Why are you up so early?”

“I have to work, silly. Wanted to get a run in beforehand.”

“You usually work at night.”

“Your mom needs me earlier today, which is fine.” Noah comes to lie down next to me, and his scent fills my nose. God, he always smells good—fresh and clean. Even his sweat smells good. Which is a weird thought, but it’s true. “What are you going to do today?”

“I don’t know.” First, I need to work on getting out of bed, which is normally a difficult task. Noah grins at me before leaning in for a kiss. Flinching back, I frown.

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