Page 124 of All We Need

He palms the door, opening it wider. “Idon’t want your apology because there’s nothing to apologize for.WhatIwant is you in my bed.I’llbe angry at you for taking two days to come here in the morning.”

BeforeIcan respond, the dark room behind him swallows his silhouette.Ihesitate for a nanosecond before my legs guide me up the steps and over the threshold.

“Lock up, would you?” he calls from the bed, where he’s sprawled out likeAdonis, the moonlight painting him in a blueish hue.

I don’t question what’s happening.Thesound of the lock turning is barely audible over the blood pounding in my ears.Ished my clothes, leaving a trail of wool and cotton behind me untilI’mleft in only my bra and panties.

The cool bedsheets soothe my heated skin.Acanyon separates us, reminding me of that first evening at the cabin.

Only this time,Iwant the distance eradicated.Ahair’s width is too far.

Rising to my hands and knees,Icrawl across the mattress before climbing into his lap, slowly lowering myself.Everymuscle, tendon, and nerve ending unwinds asIwrap my arms around his torso, cheek pressed to his chest.

Heavy arms surround me, better than any blanket.Stronglegs lock me in place.

“That’s better.”Hisvoice loses its tension. “That’smuch better.”

The steadfast beating of his heart quells my nerves, andIsay whatI’vewanted to tell him since he walked out of the office.

“You didn’t deserve the horrible thingsIsaid.Youmight notwant my apology, but you deserve one.So,I’msorry,”Imumble. “Ifind it hard to trust.Evenbefore this journey to find my birth family,I’vebeen wary of others.WhenIrealizedI’dgrown reliant on you,Ifreaked out.Thisisn’t your burden to carry, yet you’ve somehow shouldered the weight sinceItold you about my past.WouldIhave gotten this far without your help?”

His breath stutters. “Ifyou don’t want my help,Ican step back.”

I prop my chin on his chest. “Doingthings alone has always been easier.Iwas so deep in my head about trusting you thatIhadn’t realizedIalready did.Inexplicably.”Myindex finger follows the outline of his bottom lip. “I’mnot reliant on you;I’mstronger with you.”

“Nah,Silver.It’sall you.Yourstrength is your own.”Hebends forward, locking our gazes. “I’mnot going anywhere if you need a break, though.I’mhere becauseIwant to be.Okay?”

A small smile lifts my cheeks. “Okay.”

He sighs, fingers running over my back in soothing motions. “Yourdad told me aboutGermany.Itsounds exciting.Bigopportunity.”

My breath catches.Hediscusses it like you would the weather.

“IfIonly have you until the end ofFebruary, do me a favor?”

I pinch my eyes closed and nod, clutching him tighter.

“Give me all your days, hours, minutes until that date.Ifthings don’t go as planned withMartinorHarvey, talk to me.Callyour parents.Getmad and upset, but don’t do it alone.Letme in.”Thecadence in his voice cracks me open.

My lip trembles, soIpress them to his skin, hiding my emotions. “Ican do that.”

“Don’t think about the goodbye.Allwe need is today; forgetabout tomorrow.”Hepresses a kiss to my crown, reaches into his bedside drawer, and produces a little plastic rose.Likethe petals on the tiny, red flower, my heart flourishes and blooms.

“Sleep now, beautiful.”

Today.

AsIstare at the flower,Icount how manytodayswe have left.

Thirty-eight.

And then they end.

I’ll deal with the misery of our farewell when the time comes.

For the next thirty-eight daysI’mgoing to pretend tomorrow doesn’t exist.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

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