Page 47 of Easton

The blinds are closed, but there’s a little bit of light coming in, enough to see Claire’s now on top of the covers with me.

Uh, and we’re facing each other.

But that’s not the end of it. Claire is snuggled in close to my chest, her hand clenching my tee. My arm is around her, holding her protectively.

I must’ve done that in my sleep.

I…don’t…move.

I want to savor this moment.

I can’t help but think this is how it should be every night. Too bad that’s just a wish. Tonight I’ll be back in my own bed down the hall, and Claire will be in here.

Even though I’m still as can be, Claire begins to stir.

Maybe she senses I’m awake.

In any case, I can tell when she wakes up by the way she sucks in a clearly surprised breath.

But she also doesn’t move.

We just lie still, pretending like we’re both asleep.

But then, out of the blue, I feel her press her nose into me and breathe in.

I take a chance and run my hand down to the small of her back.

She grips my T-shirt more tightly.

I breathe out.

She breathes in.

I breathe out.

She breathes in.

And then she murmurs, “Easton?”

“Yeah?”

She lets go of my shirt and scoots up.

I pull back my arm.

Still facing me, my head on one pillow and hers on another, and with a little more space between us now, she smiles at me and says, “Thank you for taking care of me and staying with me last night.”

“Anytime,” I reply.

She winces. “Ugh, hopefully you won’t have to do this again any time soon. I don’t plan to go overboard like that in the future.”

I laugh. “I don’t think anyone ever plans to go overboard, Claire. But if it ever happens again, I’ll be here for you.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs. “I’ll do the same for you too.”

That’s us, taking care of each other.

She sighs, and with my brow creasing in concern, I ask, “How do you feel now? Still pretty bad?”

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