Page 10 of Sleepless Pact

“I’m sorry, I was on the phone,” he says before taking my hand.It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask with who, but that’s not my business.

When we get to the kitchen, Phillip pulls out a chair for me, and I see the table is loaded with food.He piles my plate full before I can stop him, and my eyes widen.

“Eat up.I promised you a day out and to show you some jewelry.Every wife needs a ring, doesn’t she?”He smirks.

Maybe I didn’t wake up in the hospital.I might be in heaven.

ChapterEight

PHILLIP

“Idon’t know which one to try first.”Audrey looks pensive as she sits across from me with five different beverages between us.

“Then let’s be systematic about it,” I say, only half teasing as I get up and ask the barista for a pen.Once I get back to our table, I use the napkin to make a list and then nod for her to begin.“You test, and I’ll take notes.”

“Okay.”She’s so serious as she picks up the first cup and takes a sip.

“Hmm.”She thinks about it for a second and then takes another sip.

“Give me some details so we can have a fair assessment.”I pretend to be stern like a reporter on the scene of a crime, and it makes her laugh.

“Okay, so this one is spicy?”She says it like a question and when I wait for her to elaborate, she shrugs.“It’s good, but I’m not sure I like more than a few sips.”

“Perfect,” I tell her as I write that down on the napkin.“Ready for number two?”

“Yes.”She squares her shoulders, and I love that she’s really putting thought into this.

When she told me she’d never been to a coffee house before, I had to wonder what kind of life she lived before she ran out in front of me.The more I learn about my sleeping beauty, the more questions I have.

“Oh, this one is good.”Her eyes widen as she drinks the frozen treat and then takes another sip.“It’s sugary.”

“Is that all you want me to put?”I tease, and she nods as she takes another big sip.

“I think I like sugar.”

God, I want to kiss her.I want to haul her over this table and put my mouth all over every inch of her.“With all of the syrup you had on your pancakes, I would agree.”When her cheeks color, I hurry to make sure I’m not upsetting her.“Next time you’ll have to put whip cream on them too.”

She seems to relax at my words and then bites her bottom lip.“That would be amazing.”

“Shall we go to number three, or are you good at stopping?”

“No, I want to try them all.”She takes one more quick sip of number two before picking up the next one.“Oh, this one is nice.It’s chocolatey but not exactly hot chocolate.”

“Better than two?”I ask, and she immediately shakes her head.

“Definitely not, but I can see how this would be nice when it’s snowing.”She looks out the window like it might happen at any moment.

“I think it’s supposed to in the coming weeks.Maybe we could go to the cabin for a few days.”

“The cabin?”She perks up, and I have the urge to take her there right this second.

“You haven’t been there yet.”

It’s the truth, but it’s wrapped in the lie we are both continuing to keep up.At some point, she’s going to have to come clean and so am I.Clearly, I’m not ready for that to happen, because I look at the drinks in front of her and go back to our little game.

“Number four?”

She takes a sip and then crunches on the piece of ice she got with it.After a moment, she takes another sip and then shrugs.“It’s okay.It’s fruity and cold, but I would much rather have two or three.”

---