Page 23 of Knox
I smiled at the screen.
@Jo.GraemePlace: Thank you. It feels strange, you know. Last year, I still lived with Ethan, and had a tiny room in the barn. Small kerosene heater, two sleeping bags to stay warm, and the shower in the stable didn't have hot water. Now, I have my own bedroom in my uncle's house. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to dump on you like that.
@KnightTimeDanc3r: You aren't. I'm always here to listen, Josh. Why aren't you sleeping?
@Jo.GraemePlace: I got used to sleeping with someone else and now the bed is too big.
@KnightTimeDanc3r: So, you need a teddy bear? Or, maybe a dreamweaver.
@Jo.GraemePlace: You offerin' to be my Morpheus?
@KnightTimeDanc3r: Since I'm not a God, I can maybe manage the teddy bear. Maybe your favorite cake?
@Jo.GraemePlace: Let's see. No one has ever asked me that. Mom always gets me asheet cakefrom the grocery store. Usually yellow cake with white icing. I really like chocolate.
@KnightTimeDanc3r: Devil's food?Wewere talking gods.
@Jo.GraemePlace: I just want to be thought about, really. Thank you for wishing me happy birthday, and you were the first. Good night.
@KnightTimeDanc3r: I aim to please. Goodnight, Josh.
I set the phone on the charger again and sighed.
The door opened slowly, spilling light from the motion sensor light in the hall, and Ian poked his head around it. I sat up, and he walked in, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
"You can't sleep, huh?" he asked as he sat down at the foot of the bed.
"No. I'm so used to having someone beside me and now the bed feels too big."
He gave me a tired smile. "I get that. Finn had an emergency meeting with the guard after the wedding, and Zaffre brought me home."
"There are a lot of Downs and Grayson brothers," I said as I leaned against the headboard.
"Sometimes too many," Ian muttered.
"How was the wedding?"
"You know, I'm still upset that Lydia cut you out. You're cousins. Family shouldn't behave that way."
I laughed. "She and I talked about it. She was afraid her mother was going to be a bitch, and her father stated I was no longer a Guthrie, so I didn't belong at a Guthrie wedding. I'd rather be a Graeme, Uncle. Lydia and I can be friends. We just couldn't be public friends until she became Wallace's wife. Now she can tell her parents to go to hell."
He rested his head against the footpost and closed his eyes. "Can I tell Lucy to go to hell?"
"I don't think Lydia would care. She doesn't like her mother all that much."
"Hmm." He sighed. "What time is it?"
I checked my phone on the charger. "It's four in the morning. Meet you in the garage in fifteen minutes?"
He nodded. "Yeah, Stryder won't wait until sunup."
He stood, stretching and yawning before making his way to the hall, and I headed into the closet to change into something warm for the barn.
Knox stood in the hall, dressed for work, head leaned back against the wall and eyes closed when I stepped out of my room. "Do you always get up this early?"
"Depends on whether I can sleep," I said.
"So, you didn't sleep?" he asked as I headed down the stairs first.
