Page 148 of Buried in Blood
Then he draws the blackout curtain tight.
“You stay here,” he says again, tone final. “You sleep. You eat. You don’t open that door for anyone but me.”
“And if you don’t come back?”
“Then you don’t open it at all.”
He walks to the door, opens it halfway, then pauses.
“Harmony.”
I look up, clutching the phone like it’s a lifeline.
“You did the right thing,” he says.
And for the first time since I left The Golden Hollows…
I let myself sob.
He stops, hand lingering on the lock.
“You were the only thing that made that place survivable,” I say.
He turns toward me slowly, like he’s afraid any sudden movement will shatter me.
“You don’t need to say that,” he murmurs.
“But I want to.”
His breath hitches, as he walks towards me, standing in front of me. Looming.
“Harmony—”
“I know I’m broken.” My voice cracks. “I know I’m not whole. But I feel like I canbreathewhen you’re around. Even if it’s just for a second.”
He swears under his breath. “Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to believe them.”
My heart pounds.
“I want you to believe me.”
Silence stretches between us. Then, slowly, I reach out, fingers trembling, and place my hand on his chest. His warmth greets me, soothing my racing thoughts.
“I want to feel something that doesn’t hurt.”
He grabs my wrist. Not to stop me, but like he’s anchoring himself.
“Harmony,” he says again, softer this time.
I lean in before I lose courage. My lips brush his.
He stills.
Then answers.
