Eight: G

la

e again, firm

iel retreat to the far side of the room. The space betwe

k. Then the

door cre

ight, casual, completely wrong for

op, straightening the throw pillow on the c

owed h

what we were

opping bags hooked over both arms. "You're both

aned in to kiss Daniel on the cheek. He offe

d a lump i

uld you?" she asked, alrea

stiff. My palms still tingled f

acked, like everything

dn't just crossed a

lite guest," she said with a proud sm

urmured. "I

yes on me from the door

om added, glancing bac

ightened. "

t like

e of what

easily he could l

ye

ood why h

dn't lie, everyt

t, I coul

every distant hum of the refrigerator felt amplified. My thoughts looped in circles,

raveled just

n't ju

omething

cared the hell o

lway. My door didn't open, but it paused ou

got

ough to see Daniel standing there in the dark, his face etched

said, voic

t sleep,"

er cou

, tethered by something i

, like he wanted to touch m

t be here,"

you

ight. "This will dest

kno

it didn't make this feeling disappear. It d

d still be a good man," he said,

could stop myself, ge

not the only

eath c

at for seconds.

he pull

o go," he

't sto

se I didn

new the next ti

dn't wa

e turned

ldn't

ist again, this time

fro

ant this," I said, breath tremblin

, eyes searching

" I whispered. "A

traint

d with something wild and irreversible. He shut the door be

did

cradling the back of my neck as his mouth met mine not soft this time, but hungry.

e weren't allowed to say in every ki

a second, eyes flicking

ingers under the hem of his sh

let

verent and rough at once. He backed me gently toward the bed lik

he whispered aga

ok my

stilled. "

words breaking past the fear. "I'

ainst mine, his breath

t it feels like the o

ere were no

and mouths and breathl

him. I didn't want to. Because it wasn't just about p

ouths stitched something broken together. And when it was over, when the

we'd just done cou

d, my cheek against his chest, listening

r of u

nothing le

uiet. And

s feeling of being exactl