Page 132 of My Revenant
So this is what comfort feels like. This was what it felt like to be held by hands that would never harm me, to be touched by a soul that wouldn’t leave me. Jonah was nothing like my mother, and he was nothing like my father because he wouldn’t leave.
I cried until my eyes felt heavy, until all the fear drained from my soul and soaked into his clothing, the hurt smoothed away by his hands as he ran them gently over my back. Soft fingers dipped under fabric to trace invisible patterns directly over my skin.
I wasn’t certain when I fell asleep, or how long I was out for before a gentle knock on the door pulled me back. Jonah was still here, his fingers combing slowly through my hair. I pulled back to look at him. His expression was soft, open, safe. He sat up just enough to place a lingering kiss on my lips.
“Want me to tell him to go away?” he whispered.
I huffed in amusement. “No, baby. I’m okay now.”
Except when I opened the bedroom door, Roy wasn’t there. The hallway was empty, but I looked down and saw a tray resting by the doorway with a plate of sandwiches and a carafe of water with two stacked glasses. The gesture threatened to bring heat to my eyes again, but I’d done enough crying for one day. I shook them off, picked up the offering, and brought it inside to share with Jonah.
As much as I wanted to stay locked away in this room with Jonah for the rest of my life, the world wouldn’t stop and wait for me to be ready to go on. There were things that needed doing, most unfortunately by me.
It was already dark, and I’d ignored a few phone calls. I had no doubts about who they were from. I’d kept Harper waiting, and he was no doubt pissed off about that.
“I have to go out for a bit,” I told Jonah, even though I knew I didn’t have the energy for the battle that leaving would probably trigger.
“Where are you going?” he asked, surprising me slightly.
“Have to see one of the Strays.”
“Will you be safe?”
“Yeah, baby, I promise. Just picking something up.”
Jonah frowned. “How long will you be gone?”
“A while. But I’ll have my phone on me if you need me for anything.”
I waited for the arguments, but none came. He simply nodded. “Okay. I’m going to visit Bee for a bit, then.”
“Okay, baby.” I kissed him softly, and then again. “You call me if you need anything, okay?”
“I will.”
I left the room and caught the scent of roast meat and herbs. Roy was busy in the kitchen, chopping up vegetables. A tendril of guilt coiled in my gut. “I’m um… I need to head out for a bit.”
Roy turned to face me, and looked me over, no doubt trying to figure me out and the situation I was in without directly asking about it. He nodded, eyes straying to the food he’d been cooking before finding mine again. “You don’t need my permission for that, son.”
“I know… just… I want to explain, but…later?”
He nodded again, turning back to his cooking. “Anytime, kid. I’m here.”
“Were you… cooking for us?”
“No,” he answered quickly. “I’m just cooking. But there’s enough, and you boys need to eat, so…”
“I’ll eat when I get back. It smells really good.”
“Right. Good.”
A smile pulled at my lips. “Thanks, old man.”
“Get outta here, brat.”
I laughed, feeling a bit lighter as I left the warmth of his home.
I needed the ride more than I’d thought—the open road, the wind whipping past as Delilah and I weaved through traffic and headed for the city.
