Page 114 of No Need to Run
Even though I know I should.
Her eyes pop open. A slow smile curls her lips. “You’re staring.”
I swallow. “Am I?”
She nods, completely unbothered. “I don’t mind.”
The moment stretches.
Then something in me snaps back into place.
I clear my throat, shifting slightly. “I should get going. I have… things to do.”
Before I do something stupid. Like stay.
I catch the flicker of disappointment on her face.
Most people would've missed it. I don't.
“Okay,” she says lightly. “Let me just get up and change.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, realizing it’s too late.
I messed up.
And now I don’t know how to fix it.
She nods too quickly, her shoulders tense. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappears upstairs.
The second she’s gone, I exhale hard. "Yeah... I definitely messed this up."
I run a hand through my hair, trying to tame it.
I stand, fluffing the pillows and folding the blanket. I look around, but I’m not sure where it goes, so I set it on the couch.
"Did I... make her mad?" I murmur aloud.
The grandfather clock ticks, but that’s the only sound.
My chest tightens. I hope the ticking of the clock isn’t an answer.
Violet’s light footsteps hit my ears seconds before she enters the room.
She looks at me. "How about I make us some coffee? Then I’ll take you home.”
"Okay."
The ride is quiet.
Which somehow feels worse.
Violet drives like nothing’s changed.
Like I didn’t wake up with her curled into me.
Like I didn’t freak out the second it started to feel real.
