Page 93 of The Woman Left Behind

“Jenna does that in house. I called her this morning, she had them ready by the time we swung by this afternoon.”

Still carrying his duffle and uniforms, he came to me, and I got another light kiss.

He then started across the room but stopped dead again when he saw the three big, fleecy, pillowy beds, which were the new décor in the living room.

His neck twisted so he could look at me, and that expression on his face was about a million times stronger.

“Did you also buy filet mignon?” he asked.

“I knew I forgot something,” I joked.

He smiled then returned on his journey to my bedroom.

I followed him.

He dropped the duffle.

I opened the door to my closet where there was now a couple of feet of extra space, and several free hangers.

“You can put your uniforms there,” I told him.

Harry did that.

When he did, I stated, “Okay, this is also not stalkery euw. While you’re with me, you’re more than welcome to live out of your duffle bag. But…” I moved to my dresser and opened the second drawer, the one I’d emptied earlier. “You can also unpack so you’ll feel more at home. No pressure,” I said hurriedly. “I’m not making any statements or being weird or?—”

I stopped talking when Harry walked up to me and put his fingers to my lips.

“You’re tidy,” he said quietly, dropping his hand. “I get it. You don’t want my shit all over the floor.”

This was very true. I was very tidy.

And okay, this was a big thing for me, especially now, when I needed my space like I needed my space.

But I also needed Harry.

Though, it was more, since I didn’t need Harry to think I was needy, latching on to him and sending what we were exploring into the stratosphere way too soon because I was raw and emotional and, well…needy.

I bit my lip.

“I can unpack, Lillian, it isn’t a big deal,” he said.

I studied him closely. “You sure?”

“Honey.”

That was all he said.

I had a feeling he thought that word communicated more than it actually did, so regrettably, I had to ask him what he thought it communicated.

“Is that confirmation you’re sure?”

“Is there something here beyond the something we both know all too well is happening here?” he asked in return.

Hunh?

“I’m not following,” I admitted.

“Lillian, we both know why I’m here. We both also know I need to be here how you need me to be here. So if you need things a certain way, there isn’t anything to be nervous about. So, is there something else that’s making you nervous?”

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