Page 14 of My Knight

I didn’t turn back to the TV right away. “Avoiding my question?”

“Just like you avoided mine,” she shot back.

I opened Netflix and started flipping through movies. “What question did you ask?”

“Why are you stuck to me like glue?”

I’d heard her the first time. I just didn’t have a real answer.

“Thirsty?” I asked instead.

She laughed, even if she was trying not to. “You’re making me feel like I’m crazy, Pirate. Am I really talking?”

“I hear you, baby. I just don’t know the answer to your question. I’m here because this is where it feels right. That enough?”

She gave me a look, her lips quirking up like she didn’t buy it but wasn’t going to push. “Not really. But I’m pretty sure you’re not going to give me anything else. And I just learned you’re good at avoiding me when you don’t want to hear me.”

She yawned and tried to hide it behind her hand.

“The movie’s starting. Why don’t you lay down? I’ll get you something to drink.”

“I’m not sleeping,” she insisted.

I held up my hands. “Never said you should sleep. I just want you to rest.”

“Horizontally,” she muttered.

Still, she scooted backward on the bed, easing herself down slowly. When her head hit the pillows, she let out a soft sigh.

“This what you want?” she asked.

“That’ll do. I’ll be right back.”

I set the remote down on the nightstand and headed for the door. Before leaving, I flicked off the overhead light so only the glow of the TV lit the room. I stepped into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind me.

The clubhouse was quiet, the steady hum of voices down the hall and the smell of food cooking the only signs of life.

I followed the scent to the kitchen.

Adalee stood at the stove, stirring something in a huge pot. She glanced over when I walked in.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

“Just getting some water.” I opened the fridge and grabbed two bottles.

“Think she’ll be up for dinner? I’m making sausage, potato, and kale soup.”

I curled my lip. “I’m sure it tastes better than it sounds.” I didn’t even know what kale was—some kind of lettuce?

Adalee laughed. “I promise it’s good.” She pointed toward the oven. “I’ve also got a carrot cake in there.”

“Good. I’ll have three slices of that.”

She rolled her eyes. “I bet you’ll have two bowls of soup too.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that. What time’s dinner?”

“Should be ready by six. Want me to bring some to your room?”

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