Page 63 of Waiting Forever
My heart flip-flops like I’m a teenager in high school. “I would have liked that a lot.”
“The apology or the kissing?”
“Both.”
He sweeps his finger from my shoulder to my wrist. “Your turn.”
I close my eyes and prepare to revisit that day. I don’t like to talk about it for that reason.
A beep sounds from out in the hallway.
“What was that?” I sit up and glance out the open door.
“One of the outdoor alarms was tripped.” He stands and pats his pockets. “I don’t have my phone.”
“Do you need it?” I swing my legs off the bed.
He touches my knee, his gaze on the hallway. “Stay here while I check it out.”
“What if I don’t want to stay here?” I stand.
He glances at me as if I spoke in Russian.
“I’m not afraid,” I say. “I’ve been through worse.”
His eyes widen and then his lips press together in a hard line. “I will kill whoever hurt you.”
“You’d have to get in line.”
The beep sounds again. We both glance out the doorway.
“It could be a racoon or deer triggering the sensor. Just let me check. Okay?” He holds my biceps.
Not wanting to stress him out more, I agree. “I’ll stay inside.”
“Thank you.” He kisses my forehead and leaves the room.
I follow him to the door and watch him track down the hallway toward the great room. Once he disappears from sight, I trail after him. I said I’d stay inside, not that I’d stay in my room.
25
Nathan
MY PHONE ISN’T in the kitchen like I thought. What the hell did I do with it?
I spy the open vodka bottle on the counter.
Feels so long ago since I came downstairs to ice my hand. I curl my fingers a few times. No pain at all.Huh?
I’ve heard orgasms are good for you, but can they heal?
Instead of searching for my phone, I traipse to the French doors and the tablet mounted on the wall. I can use it to pull up the video footage and see what set off the sensors.
I tap the screen and the security system. Looks like the sensor in the backyard was tripped. It happens sometimes, wildlife from the wooded conservation by the lake.
To be safe, I turn on the patio light, illuminating part of the pool deck and a section of the grass in the backyard. Knocking sounds on one of the French doors.
I jump back. What the hell? A medium-height silhouette appears through the glass panes.
