Page 128 of Dark Endures

We have this sort of truce set up since I’ve come back. Neither of us talks about work, mine or his. He doesn’t ask about what happened.

Nothing stressful, nothing heavy.

It’s like a fake, almost perfect world.

If only it were real.

An Almost Normal Life

Maddox

Waiting is torture.

Blissful torture, but torture just the same.

I wait for Mindy to find her balance, touching her like I dream of doing, but not at all the way I dream of doing it. This is all clinical. Like I’m a tool, making sure she doesn’t collapse to the ground.

Every day, I want to pull her close, stare down into her eyes, and then kiss her until she begs me never to let go. Until she says the three little words I need to hear more than I need to breathe. “Breathe through the pain.”

“I miss the good drugs.”

Seeing the pain in her eyes just about breaks me. “Yeah, but you don’t want to become an addict.”

“Picky.” She grimaces. “It didn’t hurt as much as yesterday.”

“And it won’t hurt as much tomorrow. You’re healing up.” I don’t know if I’m telling her that or myself. This will end. It’s just temporary.

“I think I’m ready.”

I’m never ready to let her go, but I do. When she doesn’t waver, I take a small step back. “How are you doing? Any dizziness?”

“I’m good.” With eyes locked on mine, she steps closer.

The temptation looms over me. It wouldn’t take any effort at all for me to lean down and kiss her. But now’s not the time. Our first kiss shouldn’t be marred by pain. “A walk or bathroom.”

Her cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink. “I’ll head to the bathroom first.”

“Enjoy your walk. What do you want for dinner tonight?”

“Surprise me.”

A kiss would certainly surprise her. Instead, I watch for her to move a few feet before heading to the kitchen. I could cook for her, but that would take too long. I message Ace to bring up two of tonight's specials, then grab forks and napkins.

She’s going to be tired after going to the bathroom and walking around the apartment for a while. I set the little table the girls found that’s the perfect height for Mindy to reach while lying down, and walk over to light a fire.

Tonight is going to be cold. I don’t want her to get chilly. Maybe I should grab another blanket for her bed. There are only twenty new ones lining what was once my gun closet and is now a linen closet. How they managed to move a safe that was bolted onto the floor, I don’t know. But Winnie seems like the type to make what she wants happen, regardless of little things like that.

Mindy steps out of the bathroom, holding on to the wall for support.

I rush over to her side. “Bed or a little more walking.”

“More moving around, please. It makes me feel good to get the blood flowing through my legs.” She steps away from the wall and walks toward the kitchen. “I can’t believe you got this place ready for me so quickly.”

Most of it was like this. “All of your friends helped. I like them. They seem like wonderful people.”

“They are.” She smiles. “I’ve known them since grade school.”

That’s a really long time to stay so close to a large group of people, and it’s yet another way that we’re the same.

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