Page 103 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

Home? Home.

“Yeah, we had new workers, so there wasn’t much to do.”

“Are you two taking turns now on who stays up late?” Tristan asked Kayla, taking her from me. “Hey, princess.” He smiled, swinging her around, throwing her up, and catching her so smoothly while my heart jumped in fear of him accidentally dropping her.

Kayla giggled. Gosh, they enjoyed the dangerous play.

He returned her to me, and Kayla almost looked sad as she watched him walk away. I took her to my room and put her down in the small play area I’d created for them in the corner. She was quick to grab her doll.

“Mommy needs a bath. I’ll be quick,” I said, but she only took a glance at me and then continued trying to feed her doll.

I undressed and entered the bathroom. I spent a decent amount of time washing my hair because it smelled like fish.

I heard voices from my room. I turned off the shower and stepped out in haste, still covered in soap. I paused from opening the door when I picked out Tristan’s voice. It sounded like he was conversing with Kayla.

I returned to the shower and took my time in washing off today’s work. I cleaned up the wet floor and walked out slowly. I found the cutest sight in front of me. Tristan was asleep on my bed with Kayla tucked into his arm. He held one of her dolls in his hand. I tiptoed to get my phone and took a quick picture. I didn’t think it’d ever been so evident how much they were alike, even the way they both slept with their lips slightly open. It took my whole willpower to tear my gaze away from them and grab something to wear.

I dried my hair with a towel and slipped into flannel sleep shorts and a cropped top. I quietly took Kayla away from him and took her to her crib in the next room.

I debated on waking Tristan when I returned to the room. Last night, it’d looked like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. He might not have been able to go back to sleep after walking to his room. I would just let him sleep. He looked like needed it.

I did some schoolwork for a few minutes before turning off the lights. I lay beside him but far from him. I was close to the edge of the bed, thanks to Tristan’s huge body lying in the middle and taking up half of the space.

I didn’t know what time it was when I decided to roll on the bed, but I ended up falling off the bed.

“Shit!” I cried out, curling into a ball on the floor and clutching my elbow.

“Chloe?” Tristan called, moving on the bed. “Chloe? Where the hell are you?” He came down from the bed after switching on the lamp.

I groaned as I felt the pain in my left hip, but my elbow was hurting the most.

“Chloe?” He rushed to where I was, squatting next to my body. “Are you okay? What happened? Should I call for help?” he asked as he touched my arm. “Say something, baby. You’re scaring me.”

Even in pain, those four-letter word sent tingles through my body.

“I’m fine. I fell off the bed.” I laughed, sitting up.

“I should get you to the hospital. Maybe you broke something. Shit.” He tried to walk away, but I held him back.

“Seriously, I’m fine. I only hit my elbow,” I told him, trying to assure him with a smile.

“There could be internal bleeding, a concussion, and I’ll be dead before I let anything happen to you,” he said and tried to move again, but I held his arm tighter.

“Tristan, I’m okay,” I said, laughing.

I saw a smile, but it dissolved into a frown. He helped me up from the floor, and I sat at the edge of the bed, ignoring the growing pain around my ribs.

“Let me have a look.” He pointed at my elbow. His voice was still raspy from sleep, and his bed hair was messy at the top.

“Let me see it, Chloe,” he said again, drawing my eyes away from his face.

He grabbed the seat at my dresser and pulled it closer till he was sitting in front of me. I could just lean closer and show him, but I stood up and moved closer till I was standing in front of him, his face almost touching my bare stomach, exposed from my top. I could feel the change in his breathing, but he didn’t lean back or pull away from me.

“It only hurts a little bit,” I said, showing him my elbow.

The rough pads of his fingers touched the pale red spot on my skin, and I winced.

“I’ll be fine. It will heal in no time,” I said, watching the way his jaw clenched.

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