Page 156 of Where We Bloom

At around midnight, with no sign of sleep in sight, I walk down to the library and sigh happily when I turn on the light and the room practically glows.

I’ve spent most of my sleepless hours organizing this room while Connor's been gone. I unpacked all my books and lined them up, alphabetized by author.

Then I decided to reorganize them by genre, which I like better.

I have plenty of space to add more books, which I can’t wait to do.

Tonight, there’s no organizing to be done. I finished it all yesterday. The library is my happy place, and I don’t think Connor could have found a better gift to give me.

He sees me.

And I love him for it.

Maybe I should adopt a cat. They’re relatively self-sufficient and would be company for me when Connor is away on business. I could picture a little black cat curled up in my lap, here in the library, while I read.

It’s definitely something to think about.

After grabbing a favorite title to reread tonight, I relax in one of the plush chairs and settle in to read the night away.

By three in the morning, I’m no closer to sleep, but my brain is too tired to make sense of the words on the page, so I stand and stretch.

Nowwhat am I supposed to do?

It’s a beautiful late summer night out, and remembering that I’ve hardly been able to drive my new car, I decide this is a great night to go for a drive.

I’m dressed in a loose T-shirt and shorts, so I shove my feet in some flip-flops, grab my handbag with the key fob inside, and deactivate the house alarm as I walk out to the six-car garage, open my bay’s door, and fire the Porsche to life.

Ilovethis car. I love the rumble of the engine, the soft leather seats, and I really love how fast this thing can go.

Moments later, I’m cruising down the driveway, through the gate, and onto the highway, headed out of town.

I’m careful not to gotoofast because of all the wildlife that could pop out at any moment, but I do put the sunroof back and blare the music. As Taylor Swiftsings about being the antihero, I belt it out with her and feel energized.

Getting out of the house, in the fresh night air, is exactly what I needed.

Driving my new car without Simon hovering? Even better.

I love driving around Bitterroot Lake. It takes about an hour because it’s abiglake, but it’s such a beautiful drive, even at night. I’m only twenty minutes away from the house when a vehicle drives up behind me, their lights flashing, and I hurry to pull over and let them by because they’re clearly having an emergency.

Except they don’t drive by.

They pull up behind me, and just as I’m about to speed away becausefuck that shit, I look in the mirror and see …Simon?

I jump out of my car and push him in the chest.

“Youscaredme!”

“Iscaredyou?” He scowls down at me. “For fuck’s sake, what are you doing? It’s the middle of the goddamn night.”

“I’m taking adrivein my new car. Not that I have to explain anything to you.”

“No, butIhave to explain to Connor why the woman he’s paying me to protect is not with me in the middle of the fucking night.”

This is the most emotion I’ve ever seen come from this man.

“I just went for a drive.”

“And now you’re going home,” he says, schooling his face back into stone.

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