Page 130 of Timelessly Ours
I wonder if any of them are to Nick. Please come pick up your sister.
But that doesn’t sound like him.
The door creaks open and he steps in, but not too far in. “You’re awake. Can I heat up the soup for you?”
I shake my head. “I just had the broth. Thank you. I really needed that.”
He keeps his distance and watches me.
I wait for the questions to start. I wait for anything that’s not the mundane, just taking care of me, clipped dialogue.
I wait for him to show me how badly I disappointed him today.
“Did you know you were going to Sylvie’s when we were texting earlier?”
I nod.
He drags a hand through his hair, then scans me. “You have a stomach bug or something?”
“Royce, I didn’t drink. I promise. I didn’t.”
“And what kind of promise is this, Nicole? Should I believe it the way I did a few weeks ago when you promised not to set foot in that place again?”
“I fell. I was talking to Sylvie and then…I don’t know I just fell.”
“Are you hurt?”
“A guy named Chuck caught me,” I grumble.
He scoffs as if this is just getting better and better. “What was it, Nicole? What set you off this time?”
I pull myself up, feeling strength returning to my bones. “Nothing. No one. Royce, this isn’t like last time. I’m done. Yes, it’s always a fight but I swear, I have no reason to. I’m happy. You and Rory make me happy. I love you.”
He doesn’t even blink. “So happy that you lied?”
I swallow the pain. “Royce.”
“Lie down. We’ll straighten this all out tomorrow, okay? You need to sleep off whatever this is.”
I nod. “I’ll go to my room—”
“You’re staying here,” he snaps. “I’m just going to lock up downstairs and I’ll be up soon.”
I wait for him for some time, but he doesn’t come.
Finally, I fall asleep on his side of the bed. Next to the bathroom, just in case.
I’m cold when I wake up in the middle of the night.
Royce is beside me, but I can't tell if he's asleep. Something feels heavy and I realize there's an extra blanket over me. But it doesn't replace his arms around me because I'm still shivering.
Why didn't I just go to my room? And why the hell did I tell him I love him?
Having slept all day, I’m up way into the night. I wake up warm and find myself flush against his body. My back to his front. His arm around me and the extra blanket pushed aside.
I manage to slip out from under his arms and tiptoe into my bedroom. I pack a few of my things into a duffle bag. Stuffed into one of the pockets is an opaque pink beaded bracelet. Given to me by my first taekwondo instructor. If you think I’m badass, you should have seen Jane.
She gave it to me when I earned my blackbelt, knowing I was still a frightened girl no matter how hard I fought. She told me this bracelet would keep me safe.