ra went quiet this time, her gaze fixed on the table. She sat there for what felt like ages before finally asking, "How''s Aiden?"


    She already knew the answer-she''d just called the hospital herself. She was only asking to change the subject.


    Dn was turning his fork and knife in his hands before he finally set them down, his whole posture heavy, as if he was carrying something he couldn''t say out loud.


    Then it hit her: he''d just asked her something, hadn''t he? And she hadn''t answered.


    With Dn, not answering was as good as saying no. He never seemed to expect good things, especially when it came to feelings.


    ra took a breath. "Dn."


    He didn''t say anything, just kept his eyes lowered, looking lost.


    She tried again, "Are you full?"


    "Yeah."


    At least he answered that.


    ra reached out, running her hand over his shirt-half the buttons were already undone. "If you''re done eating, let''s keep going. Just skip work today."


    He looked surprised she was taking the lead. He hesitated for a few seconds before finally taking her hand.


    ra didn''t bother checking his expression-she already knew it wouldn''t be great so she just cupped his face and kissed him.


    Dn was a lot like Z in one way: if things were good in bed, everything else seemed easier to talk about.


    They kept it up until evening, and by then ra waspletely spent. She slumped against the sofa, practically asleep, while Dn-shirt barely buttoned, just his dress pants on-was carefully tending to the bandage on her shoulder.


    Her shoulder was almost healed; she usually bounced back fast. She tried to lift her arm to stop him, but she didn''t even have the strength. She just let herself lean into his touch, mumbling a little and enjoying being taken care of.


    When he finished, he scooped her up to the bathroom for a shower, making sure her wound stayed dry.


    Afterward, as he carried her to bed, she finally caved. "I really can''t do this anymore. Rain check?"


    He tucked her in, brushed a kiss against her lips. "I''m not a monster, you know."


    Oh. So he hadn''t nned to keep going anyway.


    ra let out a long breath, eyes half-shut, watching him move around the room. Someone knocked at the door, but she couldn''t even be bothered to wonder who it was.


    He left for a minute and came back with an armful of his own suits.


    ra snapped awake, watching as he calmly started hanging his clothes in her already too-small closet.


    She''d said she wasn''t going to Palm Bay. Looked like he was nning to move in here with her.


    Her chest tightened, a strange ache she couldn''t exin.


    With his back to her, Dn kept organizing his stuff—and even straightened up her clothes while he was at it.


    Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, her words barely more than a sleepy whisper.


    "You really are just like him, you know."


    She was already half-asleep, managing just one more slurred sentence. "Let''s talk in the morning. I''m exhausted."


    "Okay."


    He shut the closet, then climbed into bed beside her.


    ra must have gotten used to having someone beside her-she rolled right into


    his arms, snuggling up to his shoulder, and fell asleep.


    The next morning, she woke up feeling brand new. She stretched, got herself together, and wandered into the living room.


    Ryan was sitting on the couch, looking like he''d bitten into a lemon.


    ra stopped, ncing over at Dn. He lookedpletely at ease, typing away


    on hisptop, breakfast already set out on the table.


    ra cleared her throat. "Have you had breakfast?"


    Ryan practically exploded, his finger nearly poking Dn in the face. "Why is he here?! You two! You-you-"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!