Page 19 of Night So Silent
“This is my bed.”
“But you said I can sleep here.”
“You can.”
“Not ifyou’resleeping here.”
Why is he looking at me like I just asked him the square root of something?
“Should I sleep somewhere else?” he asks.
My mouth opens and my eyes dart around the room as I try to think of something to say. Shouldn’t this be obvious?
“It’s alright—I mean, it’s your bed, I can sleep on the sofa.”
After a few seconds of heavy silence, I start to pull the covers back, but when I look up, Sergei’s mouth curls into an unexpected smile.
“Stay put,Printsessa.” He tosses the comforter back over the corner of the bed. “See you tomorrow.”
Then he ambles across the room and out the door, gently closing it behind him.
“Goodnight,” I call softly just as the latch clicks shut.
I settle back into the bed with a bizarre mixture of panic and disappointment. But it’s ridiculous, it should be a given that I’m not going to share a bed with Sergei after only knowing him for less than a week.
Know. That’s a pretty liberal term anyway. It’s not like we spent any time together outside of a couple of rides between the airport. And then there’s what he said to me at Brett’s…
Even so, strange thoughts begin crossing my mind. Maybe it’s because he reads books about women exacting gruesomerevenge on men for their heinous crimes. The man told me that his mother killed her abuser and then said women should engage in more throat-slitting over a bowl of homemade ramen—which was really good, I might add.
Even so, I probably shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much when he cleared away my bowl and came close enough for the warm scent of oakmoss and fabric softener to taunt my olfactory senses. I’m always professional. Would it be so bad to indulge in something so outrageous?
Yes, because you’re done with men for the time being.
I set my phone on the bedside table and switch off the light. This isn’t spring break back in college. I’m in a little house on a mountain where the wind sounds like it could rip it from its foundation any minute. This is no time for romance.
But to be fair, no man who likes cats can be all bad…
CHAPTER FIVE
Four Days Until Christmas
Sergei
My bedroom door is still closed and the house silent when I wake up.
I never planned on sleeping on my sofa in my own house but, fortunately, the cushions are about the same firmness as my bed. And that’s intentional.
I’m all about comfort.
It’s still early, and very dark. Exactly how I like to start my day. The hinges are silent as I open the bedroom door and make my way across the carpet to the dresser. After grabbing some clothes, I look over my shoulder at Barrett, buried beneath my comforter, her shoulders rising and falling with steady breaths. I knew she’d sleep well in my bed, which is half the reason I let her stay there. After indulging myself for a few more moments, I continue to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.
I should’ve asked Barrett what she drinks in the morning. I’m not used to having houseguests. Edie’s managed to paw open the door and now she’s curled up at the end of the bed. Barrett mentioned she used to have a cat, so I assume she won’t mind if I let Edie stay.
Back out in the great room, I finish making my usual dirty Chai latte and open my laptop to respond to emails and check cameras. Hopefully the shot of espresso will wash out the vile taste of that goddamn nicotine gum. I have an iron stomach and I can eat anything, but something about it is just so off-putting.
I’ve been smoking for nearly half my life, since I was 12 years old. And since starting this process a couple of months ago, I can finally admit that I was naïve to think quitting would be as easyas chewing some gum. I should’ve gone with the patch, but here we are.
I pop another piece as soon as I wake up, followed by copious amounts of caffeine. At least I’m good and awake now. And after a storm like this, it takes at least a day to figure out which roads are impassable and which ones will be traversable by snowmobile. It's easy enough to get to town in an emergency, as long as you’re conscious. But air travel is a no-go, and that’s if you could even get to the airport. And from the forecast, we might be getting more snow tonight. Right now, I just want to make sure the wind didn’t tear off any roofing or a tree hasn’t crushed any of my buildings. After confirming the facility is still intact, save for some debris, I start checking the cameras on my own property.
