Page 51 of The Last Thing
She was out cold by seven last night, but I wasn’t.
Part of me wanted to beg Hallie to stay when we got home, but that’s not fair to her. She’d already done enough for us.
All I did was get Sophia into pajamas and plunk her in bed. She wasn’t coherent enough to eat, so I let her sleep, then warmed up food and sat by her bed all night.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I kept checking to make sure she was breathing okay and the swelling didn’t come back.
Then she woke up ready to go at five this morning and ate a huge breakfast.
I texted Hallie and told her to get some extra sleep because I called out today. Going to work at a construction site when I haven’t slept the night before is a great way for me or someone else to end up injured.
I slept for a couple of hours after I dropped Sophia off at school, but now… I’m buzzing. Still exhausted but hyped on caffeine and the leftover adrenaline from last night.
Which must be why I run my hand through my shower-wet hair and pull open my door.
It’s only three strides to Hallie’s apartment, which is good because it doesn’t give me time to think before I’m knocking on her door.
I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know what I want. I just want her.
I need her.
The door swings open, and I’m greeted with Hallie’s beautiful face. Her long, dark blonde hair is pulled up in a ponytail and her cheeks are slightly flushed.
“Hey.” Her smile is bright and more genuine than she’s given me since that first night. She’s spent so much time closing herself off and holding herself back that I haven’t seen the joyful side of her as much. “Come on in.”
She opens the door all the way and steps aside, making room for me.
I still don’t know what I’m thinking or feeling as I walk into her living room.
She slowly shuts the door, watching me carefully. Which isn’t surprising since I’m giving off caged-animal vibes.
“How’s Sophia?”
Her voice cuts through my delirious haze.
“She’s good. Woke up early, ate a good breakfast. She’s still a little embarrassed, but agreed she’ll never take lotion, soap, hand sanitizer—anything—from someone else ever again.”
“That’s good.” She moves closer. “And how are you? Don’t say fine. Tell me the truth.”
Her eyes meet mine, and the intensity of her gaze suffocates me.
How do I breathe when I want her this much?
“Yesterday scared me,” I choke out. “Seeing her like that was overwhelming.” I let out a weak laugh. “I didn’t sleep last night. I just stared at her. Counted her breaths.”
Hallie reaches out and rests her hand on my arm. “I understand that.” Her touch is meant to be comforting, but it makes me more unhinged.
“Thank you for being there.”
“I already told you that you don’t need to thank me for that.”
I shake my head. “No. Thank you for being there and calming Sophia and calming me. I—I’ve never had that before. I’ve always held it together on my own. Even when my mom was there, I always felt like I was holding it together for her too. You were calm and supportive. You gave me a safe place to land.” My voice nearly breaks. I’m aching to feel that safety again. I’m fighting to restrain my need for her, and I’m losing.
She moves closer again, her hand gliding up my arm and coming to rest on my chest.
Her gaze locks with mine, and she swallows before she speaks, low and breathy. “I don’t mind being your safe place.”
Everything snaps.
