Page 38 of Where She Is
“I know you are.”
“Daniel, you don’t know me well enough to make that judgement. I’m far from strong.”
“That’s not what I see. It takes a strong woman to up and leave her family and everything she knows to take a chance on the other side of the world.”
“That has nothing to do with what happened tonight. I don’t want to fight anyone, especially not Freya. Just tell me why she acts like a scorned lover around you?”
Daniel growls as he rubs his hands across his chin. “Christ, Han, this is difficult.”
I sink back into my seat, hold my breath and nervously chew the top of my fingernail while he continues. “You’ve got to know, I tried to stop Joe, but he married her anyway. For all her sins, my brother cares about her.” I take a baby step towards the actual question. Mainly because I’m dreading the answer. “Are you telling me there is no love between them?”
He finds it difficult to look at me when he answers. “Yes.” And here goes the question I already know the answer to, but I need to hear him say it.
“Is she in love with you?”
He’s hesitant to answer, but eventually says, “Yes.”
The room spirals in my path as I hold my head in my hands.Whaton earth have I got myself involved in? Surely, he can’t hold back on me now. He has to give me something.I takethe plunge because I can’t guess my way through any longer. I look towards him and our eyes immediately lock. “I’m trying to understand, Daniel, but you need to start from the beginning.
A resigned breath leaves his body while he nods. “I introduced them. Freya and I have known each other for years. We went around in the same crowd. Joe had always liked her, so I encouraged him to ask her out. It was a real slow burner, but they got together about a year later and before you ask, it felt strange to me at first. One of my closest friends was now my brother’s girlfriend.”
“You were close? So what changed?”
His eyes cast downwards, then back towards me. “I’m not sure where to begin with that question, Han. She’s not the same person anymore.” I give him a sympathetic smile before he continues, “I can barely stand to look at her and regret getting them together. Every. Single. Day.”
What the hell did she do?“What about your relationship with Joe?”
“It’s fine now, but it was strained for a while. He doesn’t blame me for what’s happened. She blinded him and convinced him what they had was real and nothing could get in their way.”
“I just don’t get it. Now he knows the truth, why the hell is he still with her?”
He sighs, “My brother has the biggest heart and is the most loyal person I know. He feels she is his responsibility, and that’s something he takes seriously. He doesn’t love her anymore, but he cares for her. He cares about us all and that’s why he stays with her.”
I nod, “Okay, Daniel. I still can’t understand it, but… okay.”
He loops his pinkie finger with mine. “Enough now. I think we both need some rest.” He’s right and I don’t argue anymore. I’ve had my fill for one night and I’m exhausted as I walk with him, zombie style, to the bedroom. He undresses me then lifts my limp body onto the bed. Throwing his own clothes to one side, he slowly slides next to me and covers us both with a thin cotton sheet. Daniel tentatively pulls my body to his. I can feel his relief when I don’t fight against him, but curl my arm around his waist instead. I close my eyes and hope my mind shuts down. As one very famous heroine said, tomorrow is another day.
Chapter Eleven
The eventsof the night before charge through my dreams on repeat and I barely sleep. The warmth of Daniel’s body encircles me and jogs my memory into remembering where I am. His uncertain smile greets me as I turn over and his deep husky tone whispers, “How did you sleep?”
“Not so great. You?”
“The same, but I wouldn’t have slept at all if I couldn’t feel you next to me.”
I move closer and rest my cheek on his chest, tightening my arm around his waist. I need some comfort, and when he pulls me closer, I feel calm. We lie like this for some time, lost in thought. After a while, I sit up straight and breathe out a sigh as his palm firmly connects to my spine. I love the feel of his skin against mine; but for now, he will have to wait. I rush out of bed, leaving his fingers to linger in mid-air.
“Where are you going?”
I turn around before I enter the ensuite and give him a smile, “I just need the loo.” I lock the door behind me out of habit. The brief space between us gives me a moment to run over what happened last night. There’s so much I don’tknow and the parts I do seem wrong. I don’t have all the facts, actually, I don’t have any facts at all which is the problem.
After I use the bathroom, I stand at the sink and stare into the mirror.Why did I come back when this place is not a good omen? Perhaps I’m a glutton for punishment or maybe, just maybe, I know he’s worth it.
“Hannah, are you okay in there?”
Shaking myself together, I shout, “I’ll be out in a sec.”
The smell of fresh coffee awakens my senses as I enter the kitchen and sit at the breakfast bar.
