Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
I had a future, and soon, I’d be given more freedom than I ever could have expected before.
I wasn’t going to be sad. Disappointed, okay, for a little while. But not unhappy. You didn’t tell someone they had bought a winning lottery ticket and then remind them they’d thrown away the ticket and expect them to be ecstatic about it.
And that’s what I kept telling myself as I showered and slipped on the loose, flannel pajama pants I’d stolen and a tank top. Getting into bed, I started to reach for one of the paperbacks that Hiromi had brought me the other day, after I had learned she enjoyed reading too, when I felt that tingle that warned me Alex was close.
Because he was.
Right at the doorway. I didn’t mean for my smile to be weak as I set my book down, but I guess I couldn’t help it. “Hey.”
“Were you sleeping in the library? It smelled a lot like you in there,” he asked, crossing his arms over that impeccable chest, there in a tight T-shirt and sleeping pants he’d changed into that were probably the same size as the ones I was wearing, just longer.
“I’ve been taking naps on the couch.” Busted. “I’ve been sleeping in the living room downstairs with the TV on sometimes too,” I told him. “I figured if you came in through the front door, I’d be able to hear you better.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but he’d be able to smell me in there too. I might as well be upfront about it.
“You can sleep wherever you want.” The muscles in his arms flexed. “When I’m gone. When I’m not gone.”
This man and his wording.
“You good?” Someone was feeling chatty. Or bored.
“Yeah, I’m almost back to normal now. I’ve started running again a little.” I could do this. I could draw this line and make sure to stay on the other side. “Are you okay?” I asked, hoping to sound about as normal as usual.
“Glad to be home. You showering okay? No panic attacks?” he asked.
Oh. I tipped my head to the side a little. “It hasn’t gotten worse.”
Alex nodded like he wasn’t surprised. “Nothing is ever going to happen to you again, but if you want to talk to someone about it, Asami’s aunt is a therapist. She’s just a call away.”
Despite everything, I couldn’t help but smile at him a little. “Thanks. I’ll think about it and let you know.”
He pushed off the doorframe with his shoulder and came to stand beside the bed, with an expression on his face that I hadn’t seen before. Ultra-serious. The most serious of serious. “Alana said I owe you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For that night out on the balcony.”
“Didn’t we already talk about it?”
He shook his head.
I was pretty positive we had made a joke about it, but fine. “I’m living in your house, using your water and electricity, and hoping you’ll protect me if anyone ever comes for me. Your family is going to help me figure out a fresh start to my life. Your brother wants me to teach Asami Spanish. You don’t owe me anything.”
He exhaled, not seeming even a little surprised about my mention of Achilles. He was probably aware of that too since he seemed to be able to get in contact with everyone else but me. “I do.”
“No. I’m good. If anything, I owe you rent.”
“No.”
“Pretty sure I do.”
Alex shook his head. “I like to repay my debts.”
That I knew.
Wait. “Are you leaving again already?” I asked him, trying to keep my tone even. “For a long time?”
His eyebrows curved as he frowned. “No, not again, Gracie. I won’t leave you for that long again.”
“I was just wondering,” I told him, knowing this whole conversation just felt off and weird and strained.
I missed my Crabby Pants, I thought just as my heart freaking pulsed.
Oh no. Oh, no, no, no.
I couldn’t think about it. I wouldn’t. “I know you have things to do. I just… don’t know how much longer it’ll be until my ID stuff gets sorted, and I wanted to tell you bye just in case. You know, if you’re gone doing Defender stuff, and I’m moving out….”
Alex’s face tightened. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I gave him a weak smile that I was sure he could tell I wasn’t holding my breath on that actually being the case.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he insisted. “I was only gone that long because there were things I needed to think about.”
That didn’t sound ominous as fuck.
“I had to think about the future,” he said, like he could read my damn mind. “I had to come to terms with some things.”
The future, huh? And what things? I hummed and dropped my attention to my hands, reminding myself of what was and what wasn’t. “I’m really glad you decided to keep being a member of the Trinity, by the way.”