Page 85 of We Can't Be Friends

“You’re welcome.” I stand, hanging the cloth on a hook in the bathroom.

Chloe crawls under the covers as I head to the door. Doing a second check, then a third that she’s okay, I stop when she speaks, “Will you stay with me tonight?”

My spine tingles, my heart skips a beat.

I wanted to stay. If she hadn’t asked, I would have left our doors open and found a way to return and ensure she didn’t have another nightmare.

Grateful for the offer, I seize the opportunity silently. Climbing into the bed on the left side.

She watches with the softest of smiles. Her eyes not as heavy as before. I mirror her smile. Chloe turns over, her back toward me.

Then wiggles until we’re touching. She fits perfectly against me—knew she would.

“Promiseyou won’tleave.”

Those words loom in the air.

Wasn’t it only a couple of weeks ago she told me not to make promises I can’t keep? The weight of her request presses against the confines of this room as my heart tries to leap from my chest.

It doesn’t matter, though, because I don’t know if I ever want to leave this girl.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got you, Dais, I promise.”

I hold her, watching as she drifts back to sleep. Laying there for hours, I keep her in my arms. A strand of her hair between my fingers, I play with it as she sleeps.

Tucker sleeps at the foot of the bed, his head resting on her feet.

I have no clue what the bloody hell that was, but I realize tonight there is more to Chloe than anyone knows.

***

Ileft Chloe’s bed this morning around five, after hours of watching her sleep. It’s probably creepy that I couldn’t take my eyes off her—even if I tried, I couldn’t. I can’t keep my eyes off her whenever she’s awake and around, but this time, it wasn’t because she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

This was protective—a need to do anything I canto help her.

Gently slipping my arms out from under her, I climb out of the bed.

“Stay,” I whisper to Tucker, and I swear he nods. He crawls up the bed, taking my spot.

I’m wired, my mind racing, fixating on her. Finding myself in my home office, I call Liam.

“Up early.” With daylight savings, London is now six hours ahead.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

“Everything alright, mate?” he asks me.

“I. . . yeah. . . has Emerson ever mentioned Chloe getting nightmares?”

“No, she hasn’t.” I can hear him pondering, fingers tapping against a surface. “Do you want me to ask?”

“No,” I say quickly. There’s no need to worry her best friend when she might not want her to know.

“Did something happen?”

I give Liam a quick retelling of what happened last night, leaving out the part of her asking for Aaron and cradling her to sleep.

“Have you spoken to her this morning?”

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