Page 77 of Dark Endures

Time to wake her up to eat. I message Ace to bring something warm and hardy. It’s been a long day. I unlock the doors and elevator so that he can bring it up.

Do I even want to know how Louisella got up past them?

Nope.

She thinks Mindy and I are soul mates. It feels impossible to believe that.

Over the years, I just came to expect I would be on my own. That I’d end up the eccentric old man running a town of children until I picked one to succeed me. Then I’d fade awaywatching the place I built flourish into the next generation, knowing that my life was lived for a purpose larger than my own.

Now I have her.

A prickly, stubborn, hardworking, brilliant, beautiful woman to share it with, and the world shifted. Moments ago, those plans would have left me feeling completely fulfilled. Now they’re a hollow life, missing real smiles.

When I figure out how to make Mindy smile for real.

Laugh for real.

Love—

I’m not ready for life to go this deep today.

Especially since the object of my dilemma is completely unaware of anything.

Ace walks in carrying three trays. His eyes immediately move to the couch and a smile breaks out across his face.

It seems that I’m terrible at keeping secrets.

Oh well. We’ve got forever to work on that.

He sets them on a table and walks off. Probably to tell the world about Mindy.

That’s a worry for later. I walk over to the couch she’s sleeping on and squat down so that we’re at eye level with each other. “Mindy, it’s time to wake up.”

Who are you?

Mindy

“Mindy, it’s time to wake up.”

Maddox's sultry voice hums in my ear. “No. Don’t wanna wake up.” I reach out to pull him closer. This dream is too perfect. Dream Maddox is all mine. He’s a cuddler.

“You need to wake up and eat.”

Food. Dream Maddox and food. Perfect.

“I know you need more sleep. But why don’t you wake up and eat a little? Then you can go right back to sleep.”

Dream Maddox says all the right things. “Don’t wanna.”

Dream Maddox’s rough chuckle sends shivers through my body.

“Mindy, baby, it’s time to wake up.”

Baby? Dream Maddox would never call me that. My eyes pop open to find thick dark hair in my face.

It’s short. Too short to be my own. “Let me go!”

“Can’t do that. You’re the one holding on to me.”

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