Page 17 of Bliss: Part 2
“Naturally,” he repeated. “That’s the only way.”
“Okay,” I said again, leaning back and pulling the blanket up to cover my body.
Naturally.
I could agree to that.
***
Dad had fallen asleep on the couch. His breathing was heavy, the TV still flickering in front of him. I stood there for a moment, watching him in the dim light, my mind turning over what had been said earlier.
Odin lingered for a minute, too. He glanced at me before heading down the hall toward his bedroom. Before he disappeared behind his door, he told me it would be alright. He told me I should get some rest.
They both believed I hadn’t thought it through. That I was reacting to emotion and not making a reasonable choice. But I had thought about it for a while now. Over and over. I knew exactly what I wanted and exactly what I needed. And until things played out on their own, I would keep taking what I needed from the ones who already gave it to me.
I walked quietly upstairs until I reached Dash’s room. I opened the door to find his room dark and him asleep. He was sprawled under the covers with his back to the wall.
I slipped inside, careful not to wake him, but the second I climbed onto the mattress and lifted his blanket, his body stirred instantly. He was so aware of everything, even in his sleep.
“Lissy…” His voice was low and rough with sleep. He reached toward me without opening his eyes.
“Yes, I’m here.” I moved closer until my body was pressed against his, my face buried into the side of his neck. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s fine,” he murmured. His arms came around me, pulling me closer. “You’re tense. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
I sighed, closing my eyes. “It’s really nothing, Dash.”
He let out a quiet groan and pushed himself up onto one elbow, leaning over me. His face was still soft from sleep, but his eyes had sharpened, his expression a mix between annoyed and concerned.
“You might not realize this,” he said, his voice low but clear, “but I know you better than anyone in this house. Better than you know yourself. When something’s wrong, I know. When you’re not telling me something, I know. So you better talk before I go downstairs and ask my dad.”
That caught me off guard. I felt a smile tug at my lips, though I tried to hide it.
“You think this is amusing?”
“A little,” I admitted, pressing my lips together.
“Fine,” he said, his tone shifting. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll just have to bring out the big guns.”
I frowned, confused for only a second before realizing what he meant.
“Stop!” I squeaked, curling into myself as his hands dug into my sides. “Dash, stop!”
“That’s what you get for lying to me,” he said, his voice lighter now. His fingers moved faster, tickling without mercy. “Are you going to talk to me?”
I couldn’t answer. Laughter took over, my body jerking as I tried to push him away.
“Dash, please—” I gasped between laughs, my hands against his chest, trying to push him away. “I w-will tell you, I promise!”
“Say you swear,” he demanded, grinning as his hands kept moving.
“I swear! I swear I’ll tell you—just stop, please!” My laughter turned breathless.
The muscles in my stomach ached, but the sound coming out of me was real. It had been days since I’d laughed from somewhere deep inside, and for a moment, all the weight I’d been carrying felt lighter.
