Page 60 of Lucky Night

And there’s his breath in her hair again. That’s good, too.

They’re quiet for a while. Breathing in unison.

She squeezes out a few more tears.

We should never have people over, he says. They kill the vibe.

Oh my God, Nick, don’t joke!

Sorry. His arm tightens around her. It’s a reflex. I was—that was scary.

Were you scared? she says. Poor guy!

She’s safe, after being manhandled and terrorized. She has earned the right to be truculent, to crab at him a little. Even though he saved her. Which is so frustrating! He’s the worst, he ruins everything, but no sooner does he reach the apex of jackassery—accusing her of playing games, breaking up with her?—than he does something right. Noble, even.

It’s infuriating, that contradiction, yet somehow, it’s very him. Very Nick.

Noble, though? Let’s not go crazy. Let’s not start handing out good-conduct certificates. He did what any baseline decent human would do. Preventing her abduction by a Finnish headcase: prettymuch the bare minimum. Especially since he’s why she needed rescuing in the first place.

Edvin took my phone, didn’the?

I think so, yeah.

He wrenched my arm, too. And you weren’t exactly gentle.

I’m sorry, he says. I was trying to—I’m sorry.

He was trying to save her. He grabbed her and he didn’t letgo.

I wasn’t playing games, she says. Earlier. I felt awful that you thought you were losing me, soI—

Never mind. He strokes her hair. Just hush now.

Oh no! She sits up, twisting around to glare down at him. Don’t tell me to hush!

Whoa, sorry, I just—

I just, I just!She mimics him in a high-pitched voice. I don’t care what you just! And no more with thewhoas.Don’t tell me tohush,orwhoa,ever again.

I won’t, he says. I’m sorry. Please lie down. That’s a request, obviously.

She lies down, relaxing into the pillows. Completely drained. He’s close, but not too close. There’s his good strong arm around her waist. His breath in her hair.

After a while, he gets up. She hears the bathroom door slide on its track.

Jesus, he mutters. The fan drowns out any further commentary on the state of the toilet.

How could Edvin turn on them like that? She can still feel his hand, his implacable grip. She was lost, she was basically gone, and like in a nightmare she couldn’t make a sound.

Her shoulder aches. She must have bruises. She could check. But she doesn’t want to see them right now.

She hears Nick come out of the bathroom. He enters her line of sight, peering out the window. He returns to the bed and takes a seat.

Can I do anything for you? he asks.

Yes. You can go check the stairwells.

What? No way!

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