Page 93 of Stolen Fate

Evelyn

I wokeup surrounded by warmth.

And small limbs.

I was being hugged on my side, or rather, someone was laying on top of me with his small arms wrapped around me. Someone small, and someone who had his hair in my face.

I wrinkled my nose from the tickle and tried to move away, but the small body followed, and I let out a sigh and a small chuckle. Even in sleep, he didn’t want to move far away from me, and if I was being honest with myself, I didn’t want to move far away from him either.

I didn’t know what time it was, but I knew it was early. Way too early for Elliot to be getting up for school, and if he didn’t really want to go to school, could Jace really blame me if I argued Elliot’s case for him?

I doubted Jace would make Elliot go to school if he really didn’t want to, though I thought having the structure and the familiar routine the school provided would be exactly what Elliot needed at this time, especially when he had been feeling so off-balance last night.

I wrapped my arms around Elliot’s body and moved him over so that he was no longer lying on top of me and that his face wasn’t near mine. I took in his baby scent—and yes, I knew that at five Elliot wasn’t really a baby anymore, but he still had that scent about him that I really loved—and I let that comfort me as I opened my eyes to the pre-dawn light.

I was warm and comfortable, though my arm was going numb from having been in the same position most of the night, and I was feeling all the blood rush back to my limb. I looked down at his baby face and my heart surged with love at the sight.

His mouth was partially open, some drool having made its way down the corners of his mouth, and his unruly hair was falling over his eyes. I had been meaning to take Elliot to get his haircut, but things had gotten in the way.

I ran my fingers down the side of his chubby cheeks and he wrinkled his nose at me. I smiled at the sight. He looked like a little bunny.

Feeling eyes on me, I moved my head to the side and took in the imposing figure sitting on my recliner. It took a while for my brain to catch up to what I was seeing, but when I did, I sat up on bed and gasped.

Jace moved his finger to his lips and offered an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said softly.

“What are you doing in my room?”

“I was looking for my son last night. I didn’t mean to fall asleep here.”

“Sorry,” I said, looking down at the comforter. Briefly, I wondered how I looked this morning. I resisted the urge to move my fingers through my long hair and brush it out. “He came into my room last night and I didn’t want to turn him away.”

Jace shook his head. “I’m not mad about that. I’m glad he can find comfort in your arms.”

I smiled a little and looked back down at Elliot. He had his thumb in his mouth. I had never seen him suck his thumb before. I thought I should probably remove it, but I didn’t want to take away anything that he might find comfort in.

“Should he be going to school today?” I asked.

Jace shook his head. “Let him decide. I don’t think he would do well to be away from either one of us today.”

I looked up at him in surprise. “You’re staying home today?”

He offered a barely there smile and nodded. “I’m staying home today. And honestly, I don’t think I could stand to be far away from him either.”

He looked away from me as he said it, but not before I caught the guilt in his eyes. “You know what happened yesterday wasn’t your fault, right?”

“Wasn’t it? I should have moved us to another house, somewhere Camila didn’t know about or have the keys to.”

“I doubt that would have stopped her. I don’t think she was here to see Elliot, anyway. I think she was trying to find a way to fund her drug habits.”

He nodded, and I knew he’d thought about that before.

“Well, she’ll have to sober up. Part of our agreement was for her to go to rehab.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll press charges.”

I looked back down to the comforter, not wanting him to see the expression on my face.

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