Page 28 of Love in Pieces

“No, I’m okay. I’m just tired.” He leads me down the hall, back into the bedroom I was in less than twenty-four hours earlier. I didn’t think to change out of my pajamas before coming over here, so I’m thankful the black lacy tank top and matching shorts provide enough coverage that I don’t feel overly exposed.

He pulls back the navy-blue striped comforter and sets my duffle bag on the floor at the foot of the bed. “You sleep here. I’ll take the couch in the living room.” He turns to leave.

“No!” I say, stopping myself quickly. “I, um ...” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I don’t really want to be alone. Can I sleep on the couch, too?” I ask.

He looks to the living room for a moment before answering my question. “With Rose already asleep out there, there’s only room for one more.” He pauses to think. “You take the bed. I’ll take the floor.” He starts to grab a blanket from the chair in the corner and grabs a pillow from the other side of the bed. He plops the pillow down before gently laying the blanket out as well. “Do you need to change or anything? I can leave the room if you do. Or, the bathroom is just outside in the hall,” he says, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.

“Are you sure you’re okay on the floor?” I ask, sitting down on the edge of the bed. It creaks under my weight.

He pulls the blanket over his chest. “I’m practicing for my role as a rug in case I ever get cast.” He chuckles. “Yes, I’m okay.”

I let myself laugh, too. “Okay.” I twist, slipping my feet into the soft fabric. My head easily relaxes into the pillow, taking in the faint scent of linen. His detergent maybe? Once I stop hearing Dallas’s shuffling, I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. The air conditioning kicks on, the hum lulling me to sleep. As tired as I am after such a twisted night, my ears still listen for, well, anything. My eyes are ready to spring open at a moment’s notice. My jaw is sore from clenching it so tightly. And above all, the pit in my stomach leaves me scared to fall asleep.

?CHAPTER 10

Dallas

Idid not sleep welllast night. It’s not the floor’s fault. I can usually sleep anywhere; regardless, my mind kept me on edge. Every time Abby shifted in bed, I woke up. Every time I heard the smallest noise outside the bedroom door, I braced myself. I know Sam can’t track Abby’s phone anymore, but I didn’t know if he wrote this address down after yesterday’s call.

I pull the blanket off my legs as quietly as I can and stand up. Abby still lies in bed. Black hair scatters my pillow. She was restless last night. A fist clenches the comforter like she’s afraid of what she might wake up to.

Fear can either tear you apart or build you up. Somehow, I think it’s done both for Abby. I think she’s wanted to escape Sam for a while, but fear has held her hostage. Sam has held her hostage. I can’t imagine he’s made it easy to have a life of her own, especially if he’s constantly watching her location and sending out a “rescue team” to check on her. On the other hand, she’s come out of it alive. That’s all her doing.

Coffee slowly drips into the pot, the smell wafting through the air. It’s not until I’m washing my hands in the bathroom that I notice my bruised knuckles. I’ve punched two guys in as many days. The purple and blue knuckles are tender and slightly swollen. Fighting isn’t exactly my strong suit or my first choice, but there’s only so much reasoning you can do when someone’s in such a crazed head space. I can’t imagine asking nicely would have gone over very well.

“Dal?” Rose calls from the living room.

I quickly dry my hands off, lightly dabbing at the bruises, and head out to the kitchen. “Coffee’s almost done. You want tea?”

She rises from the couch and takes a seat on a bar stool, rubbing her eyes. “Yeah. Did you leave in the middle of the night? I heard the front door shut, but to be honest, I was way too tired to make sure no one was robbing us.”

I chuckle, pouring coffee into a mug for me before placing a mug of water into the microwave for a couple minutes. I take a small sip of mine, pulling back quickly as the heat scorches my tongue. “Maybe we should get a guard dog for you.” I roll my eyes. “I did leave. I had to take care of ... a situation.”

“Sounds ominous.” She eyes me curiously, waiting for me to say more.

“Yeah, uh ... To make a complicated story short, Abby slept over again. Someone broke into her apartment.”

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