Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77719 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Any time, boo.” Then tapping me on the arm, she asked, “How’s your mind dealing with having Jinx as such a big part of your world now?”
I wouldn’t say he was a big part of my world, per se, but he’d was definitely prominent in it. “It isn’t easy, but it isn’t always difficult. Initially, when I got a text, I had to force myself to open it.” Seeing her understanding nod, I smiled gratefully at her. Maddie knew me as well as I knew myself but opening up always made me feel off balance—a feeling I hated as much as vulnerability. “Now I’m okay with it, and when I see him, I feel settled.”
“What about going out tonight?” When I shrugged, she squeezed my hand. “One bridge at a time. We’ll both take it at your pace.” She added an exaggerated wink at the end, making me roll my eyes. “But in different ways.”
The sound of an engine joined by headlights coming through the open blinds alerted us to Jinx’s arrival.
What great timing.
“We should close the curtains before we go and leave some lights on. I’ve got a timer thing that’ll switch them on in different rooms at random times, but I think I’ll keep the side lamps in the living room on to—”
Gently grabbing my arm, Maddie stopped me mid-sentence. “Sienna, do whatever makes you feel more comfortable. I’m not judging you, far from it. In fact, I’m taking mental notes to ask you where you got the timer and how you set it up, because that’s an excellent idea.”
“Will you tell him I’ll only be a minute while I check everything and set it up? But don’t make me sound too weird,” I added at the last minute.
Winking at me, she gave me a gentle tap on the arm she’d been holding and walked backward to the door. “I’ll tell him and make you sound just fine. You just get yourself sorted out.”
Blowing out a breath, I started closing curtains and blinds like I normally would when I was home at night. I’d just finished up the kitchen and the bathroom in the hallway when I bumped into Jinx. My instinct was to scream and duck, but I caught myself before I could even start making the moves. I couldn’t stop the slight jerk and gasp, though. I wasn’t that much in control of myself.
He’s in the safe circle, Sienna. He’s okay.
“Sorry, babe. I thought you’d hear me walking down the hallway.”
“No, no. I was just going through my checklist, so I was in the zone.” I waved my hands in the air, making him laugh. Seeing his face relax and the tension leave him was worth the fact I was making a goober out of myself.
“Nothing like being in the zone.” His eyes were shining with laughter still. “We’ve closed the drapes in your living room and anywhere else we could find some, but Maddie says you’ve got a timer for your lights that randomly switches them on and off in rooms. Do you need help setting it up or doing anything else?”
So far, I’d trusted him with a lot—way more than I usually would with someone outside of my family, Maddie, and her family, too. But part of me was screaming at me to let him in a bit more.
Here goes.
“Could you do me a favor?” When he nodded, I cringed slightly, making him frown. “Okay, you’re going to think I’m really weird, but could you check the back door’s locked by actually turning the lock and putting all of the bolts in place? After that, I need you to recheck it twice to make sure you haven’t missed any, please.”
Instead of looking at me like I was nuts, he nodded slowly. “I can do that. I’ll also go around and check the windows, making sure none of them are open.”
Twisting my hands together nervously, I lifted a shoulder. “That’s not really necessary. I never open them.”
“Ever?” he asked, looking surprised. “Even during the summer?”
Shaking my head rapidly, I explained, “They’re never opened. We’ve got a great air conditioning system in this house, so I don’t need to. Mind you, I never opened them at my grandparents’ house either, and if I knew someone else had, I couldn’t sleep until I’d checked them three times.” When he didn’t look surprised or stare at me like I was a neurotic nut case, I added, “Rethinking taking me out tonight, yet?”
“Not even a little,” he said firmly. “We all have our ways of doing things, and if this is yours, we do it so you can at least relax for a while.”
Smiling gratefully at him, I watched his back as he walked away to do what I’d asked. Normally, if I’d gotten my family to do it, I’d be able to relax, knowing they’d do it properly and that I’d be safe. With Jinx, though, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about not double checking it after him.