Page 28 of Two Risks I'd Never Take Again

My brain replayed the day like a movie reel, and when it reached the end, I sat up. It’d been hours since we’d eaten. I probably should’ve given Garrett a snack with his pill. Taking meds on an empty stomach was a bad idea. He was probably still awake.

Two steps out of my room, I could tell the living room was dark, but his bedroom door was still open.

“Garrett?” I rapped on the open door before walking in. “You awake?”

The bed was still made, and the light in the bathroom wasn’t on. He clearly wasn’t in here.

Now I had to find him before I’d be able to sleep. “Garrett?” Grateful for my fuzzy socks, I padded through the first floor. When I didn’t find him, I stepped out onto the porch.

We hadn’t gotten any more snow after the flurries this morning, but we still had a chance. Stadtburg had gotten considerably more, and I probably would’ve closed the shop before noon because when it snowed, people stayed home.

I walked from one end of the long patio to the other. It was still too early to panic. He wouldn’t have left the house without saying anything.

That man better not be driving after taking that pill. I ran out to the garage. My car was right where I’d left it.

The second floor had five bedrooms, and Garret wasn’t in any of them. I pushed open the double doors in the game room and checked the second-floor porch. He wasn’t here either.

There was only one place left to check, then I’d panic. The door at the end of the hall stood open. Why hadn’t I noticed that? I climbed the circular staircase, then stepped out onto the rooftop patio.

Garrett sat on the sofa with a blanket wrapped around him.

“There you are.” I crossed my arms, wishing I’d grabbed a jacket.

“Oh, hey. I thought you’d be asleep by now.” He glanced back and smiled. “What do you need?”

“I remembered that you hadn’t eaten in hours, and it’s better to take your meds with food.” I shivered and rubbed my arms.

“I grabbed a doughnut, but thanks for looking out for me.”

Lingering near the door, I stared at the back of his head. “What are you doing up here?”

“Thinking.”

Answers like that only made me more curious. I sat down beside him. “About?”

He turned to face me. “You.”

In the moonlight, I could just make out his smile. Silence surrounded us while I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t.

Holding out his arm, he motioned me closer. “This blanket is big enough for both of us. Look out that direction.”

I stared at the twinkling stars. “The clouds went away.”

He wrapped the blanket around my shoulders. “They did.”

Fireworks lit up the sky.

I tilted my head to look up at him. “Wow! How did you know?”

“The amusement park does displays sometimes on the weekends. During the summer, I think they do one every night.”

I tucked my feet up beside me and leaned against Garret. “I can’t remember the last time I watched a fireworks display.”

“That’s because you go to bed before the sun goes down most nights.” He nudged me and grinned. “This house is nice, but this is the one part I wish I could take home with me. It’s almost magical sitting up here and looking out at this view.”

“For me, it would be the hot tub.” I kept my eyes focused on the sky, enjoying the splashes of color exploding against the darkness.

“You never told me about your family.” He shifted and draped his arm around my shoulders.

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