Page 49 of Keep This Promise
Covered. She needs to be covered.
I drape the blanket over her, and she looks at me with confusion.
“I figured you might get cold. The temps keep dropping.”
As do my brain cells because my blood is in another part of my anatomy.
“Thank you.”
This is different for us. Usually, we go into our respective rooms after Eden goes to bed. Our days are busy with my shifts being insane and her hours always changing, so we’re both worn out by the time dinner is cleaned up. However, we both have off the next few days, and since we’ll be snowed in, I thought maybe this would be a good idea.
I was wrong.
I’m a goddamn idiot.
After searching for anything that will involve guns and chaos, I find one and press play. Sophie settles deeper into the couch, and I probably look ridiculous because I’m keeping way more distance between us than would be normal. If I stay away from her, I won’t want to touch her.
“Have you seen this before?” she asks after a jump scare startles her.
“No, you?”
She shakes her head. “You just don’t seem fazed.”
It’s because I’m not focusing on the movie. I couldn’t tell you a damn thing that’s going on. But I can tell you how her breathing has been or how she’s moved her legs thirteen times under that blanket. I can tell you how many times she’s taken a sip of her tea, licked her lips, and shivered.
“I guess I just expect what’s coming,” I lie.
She laughs softly. “I wish I could. Are you cold?”
The question surprises me. “Cold?”
She lifts the blanket and then scoots toward me. “You keep shivering a bit. Here, I can share.”
What the hell do I say to that? I’m not cold, in fact, I’m over-fucking-heating. Between the fireplace and my blood simmering for her, I’m shocked I’m not openly sweating, and I don’t know what I can do to calm down. I am debating running outside and tossing myself in a snow drift.
Sophie tucks us both under the blanket, and I open my arm to allow her to snuggle against my side. Honestly, it would have been ridiculous if I hadn’t.
Without pause, she moves next to me, resting her head on my chest. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment and then speaks. “All of it. The only reason I’ve made it through these last few months is because of you.”
“I haven’t done much.”
She sits up, hand on my chest. “Not done much? Are you mad? You’ve done everything. Not only given us a place to live but also made it a home. Eden adores you, and you’re wonderful with her. All of this could’ve gone differently, but you’ve given us everything. Most of all, you’ve given us safety.”
Jesus, I want to kiss her. That’s the only thing I keep hearing in my head—the goading chant, urging me to do something dumb.
Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her.
I lift my hand, brushing the soft skin of her cheek with my knuckle. “I’m not so selfless, Sophie.”
Her eyes widen, and desire swims in the pools of blue. “I think you are.”
“I want you both here. I want to keep you safe, but I also don’t want you to leave.”
She wraps her slender fingers around my wrist, but she doesn’t pull my hand down. She just freezes us here.
