Page 16 of Savage Keepsakes

“Let me worry about him. We’ll work together to fix the house.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. Looking down at my hands.

“How’ve you been sleeping?”

I tear my attention from my hands to his gaze. His eyes have crinkle lines around them, his eyebrows are drawn together, and a warmth fills my chest as I recognize genuine concern in his expression.

“I haven’t, really. I’m sick of sleeping on the floor. Gotta wait for him to bounce before I get a bed.”

“First up, buy the fucking bed. Hell, let’s go now. You can try them out and get it delivered. Jesus Christ, Lou. Second, I’ll help you fix up your house and show you that you aren’t ever the fucking problem.”

My chest tightens, and a fierce desire to be closer to him zips through me. I want it to be him who shows me everything I’ve been missing out on.

Billy pulls back onto the road, and we drive into Kawartha Lakes and find a mattress store.

Once we’re out of the car, he grabs my hand and pulls me inside. There’s something about Billy which lifts my worries.

“Hello, sir, can I help you?” A man in a suit greets us as we enter.

“Just browsing for now,” Billy says.

The man nods and walks to a large desk. The store is pretty much empty, other than an elderly couple across the showroom.

“Let’s try ‘em out.” Billy arches an eyebrow playfully, and I can’t help but smile.

He flops on a bed, and I join beside him. When his hand grazes mine, sparks of desire flow through me. The bed is too hard for my liking, but since Miles took his, I shouldn’t be too picky.

When I turn to look at Billy, he scrunches his face before a slight shake follows. “Nah, let’s try again.”

We walk around the showroom and I’m a little stunned to see there are so many choices.I touch my fingertips to my lips and look around, unsure what to do next. Billy grabs my wrist, pulling me to another section.

Dropping on a soft mattress, I worry I’d wake up with a sore back. It’s featherlight but no structure, and I begin to feel like I’m in a story I remember from my childhood. This will be my first new mattress, and I want it to be perfect.

“Lou?”

I turn to look at him. His warm hand clutches mine, and my chest flutters with the contact. “Too soft. I need a happy medium.”

“On to the next, we go!” he exclaims with a wide grin.

It’s as if we’re on an adventure and not shopping for a mattress. Billy twirls me in the middle of the store to their shitty music and winks at me.

We head to the other side, and after testing a few more, we finally find a perfect one.

“This one’s the right one.” I turn to look at him as he closes his eyes and fakes snores. When I try to get up, he holds my hand tighter and chuckles.

“Let’s find the stiff in the suit and get you home.”

Billy doesn’t let go of my hand until I have to sign the papers and swipe my card for payment. Glancing at him, I smile.

He does a sway dance to the elevator music in the store, and his attention on me burns into my soul.Each time I steal a glance at him, my heart hammers against my chest.

I’ve wanted Billy for so long. None of this feels real. Grabbing the paperwork and card, I bid the salesperson farewell.

After sliding into the passenger seat and buckling up, he glances at me.

“Having a bed is gonna make all the difference for you. I’m not fucking around when I say I’ll be there.”

“I hope not,” I whisper. Having Billy around more would make me feel safer.

---