Page 141 of Corpse Roads

CHAPTER 26

HARLOW

LAST NIGHT I WATCHED MYSELF SLEEP AND SAW THINGS THAT I WISH I COULD FORGET - AURORA VIEW

I startle awake, fisting the oversized black t-shirt I stole from Hunter’s wardrobe. My bed is empty for the first time in a whole week. Breathing hard, I force myself to calm down.

I’m home.

I’m safe.

I’m alive.

The sound of someone’s snoring penetrates my panicked brain. In the corner, curled into himself like a sleeping baby, Theo is dead to the world. I can’t believe he stayed overnight.

The stack of books on my bedside table is a fresh selection from his wealth of literary goodness. I’ve been going stir-crazy on bedrest, but his daily visits to talk and discuss book theories have kept me sane.

I’ve seen a new side to him this week. Beneath the palpable anxiety, stone-cold detachment and awkward charm, there’s a kind, caring and thoughtful person.

Easing out of bed without moving my bandaged leg too quickly, I pad over to him. The armchair can’t be comfortable. Theo moans in his sleep as I brush tangled, blonde curls from his face.

Without his glasses, he looks so young. I can’t believe someone so sweet and compassionate has experienced so much pain. You can see it written in every frown line etched around his eyes.

Slipping on a loose pair of sweats and my favourite cardigan, I silently slip downstairs. Snow is falling outside in thick curtains, dousing the world in a blanket of silence.

Lucky perks up from her bed as I walk into the kitchen. Padding over, she butts her head against my belly, her tongue lolling out.

“Hey, girl,” I whisper. “You don’t have to sleep down here just because Hunter tells you to, you know.”

There hasn’t been a whole lot of space in my bed. Enzo’s taken to crawling in late at night when he’s given up working or running for hours on end. He never speaks, just pulls me against his chest and passes out for four or five hours.

Making myself a cup of tea, I blow the steaming liquid while standing at the sink. The snow looks so beautiful, pristine and glistening like miniature diamonds on the front lawn.

“Got some more tea going, by any chance?”

Stifling a scream, I nearly drop my mug. “Hunt!”

Propped in the doorway, he watches me with a lazy half smile. My mouth dries up in an instant. He hasn’t bothered to put a shirt on, wearing only a pair of low-slung, grey pyjama bottoms.

His whole chest is on display, every tanned, chiselled inch. The dark swirls of ink that paint his torso are stark in the early morning daylight.

“Sorry.” He snickers. “Couldn’t resist. You’re up early.”

“Yeah. I’ll make you some tea.”

His smile widens. “Sit down, sweetheart. I’ve got it.”

“No, no. Allow me.”

Grabbing another mug, I set to making him a cuppa. My heart is still pounding hard. I’m struggling with my anxiety at the moment, with every creaking floorboard and slammed door causing me to spiral.

“Sleep well?” Hunter asks as he takes a seat.

I open the fridge to grab the milk. “Yeah, not bad. I decided to get up before I become one with the furniture and never walk again.”

“You’ve earned the time to rest.”

I hand him the cup of tea with an eye roll. “You don’t need to coddle me; I’m not going to run away again. No more lazing around doing nothing. It isn’t helping.”

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