Page 62 of Born into Darkness

Agree to disagree. I’m sorry it happened. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop it, and I’m sorry it took us so long to find you. We never stopped trying. I need you to know that.

ME:

I never doubted it for a second.

His next text makes me laugh.

BRAN:

So Max is going to be my brother-in-law soon, right?

ME:

I hope so.

BRAN:

I like him, and I like his family. I’m happy for you, Tally.

ME:

Thanks. I’m really glad you like him.

BRAN:

Get some sleep, okay? I know you’re exhausted.

ME:

I am and I will.

I send him the sleeping emoji, and he replies with a thumbs up. I set my phone on the nightstand, expecting to fall asleep within seconds, but nothing feels right. It’s not pitch black or bright, which are the only two ways I’ve been sleeping the last several weeks, and my hand isn’t being held by Max’s much larger one.

I toss and turn while Allie’s very sound advice runs through my head until I finally kick off my covers, knowing there’s no way I’m going to be able to fall asleep without him.

Chapter12

Maxim

There’s no way in hell I’m going to be able to sleep. I’d debated whether to keep the overhead light on, and in the end decided to turn the bathroom light on and crack the door open so enough filters out. I feel stupid doing it, but I need the reminder that I’m no longer in that dark basement. It’s not the light that’s keeping me awake, though, it’s not having Talia next to me that’s doing it. Every night, I fall asleep with her hand in mine, and not having her next to me is making it impossible to fully relax.

I’m just about to get up and sneak into her room when I hear my door open. I watch from where I’m lying in bed, grinning at the way she turns the knob to shut it so it doesn’t make a noise for everyone to hear.

“Aren’t you full of surprises,” I say, making her gasp right before she clamps a hand over her mouth. Her eyes are wide when she turns to look at me.

“You scared the hell out of me,” she whisper shouts, making me laugh. “Don’t laugh at me. I almost screamed. That would’ve been so embarrassing.”

I pat the bed with my left hand and a grin quickly spreads across her face. She doesn’t waste any time. In seconds, she’s crossed the room and is crawling under the covers to lay down next to me. I’m on my back with my arm still in the sling and resting on my chest, so I open my other arm to her, smiling when she quickly molds her body to mine.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to come in here,” she admits in a whisper, “but I couldn’t fall asleep without you.”

My fingers run through her dark hair, already feeling at peace now that her skin is touching mine. “I couldn’t sleep. I was just about to go sneak into your room, but you beat me to it. I don’t think I can fall asleep without some part of my body touching yours.”

“Me too.” She rests her hand on my chest, careful to not disturb the sling and hikes her leg over mine. My body instantly sparks back to life with her so close, but I ignore it, knowing it’s not what she needs right now. She’s exhausted. I can hear it in her voice and feel it in the way her body is relaxed against mine. She needs sleep, real sleep in a comfortable bed and on a soft mattress. There are so many things I’m dying to do to her, but they’ll have to wait. Images of her using my leg to come run through my mind, making me second-guess my decision, but I force myself to remain still.

I keep stroking her hair, thinking she’s already fallen asleep, but then she whispers, “You do like dogs, right?”

A soft laugh escapes before I can stop it. “Yes, I love dogs.” I turn just enough so I can kiss her head. “You didn’t really think I’d make you give up Wallace, did you?”

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