Page 37 of Heart Like Yours
The store takes after the town it’s in, being small enough that I can easily hear the casual conversation between the cashier and current customer even when I’m at the back perusing the wine selection. I have to force myself to take my time, not to load up the basket as quickly as possible and get back to the hotel room.
Over the past two hours, Paige went through an emotional ringer. Add in the fact that she was visibly uncomfortable from having to share a room? She deserved her space to process everything. Even if I wished she were at ease with me there, that level of trust doesn’t happen overnight. She might have opened up to me at the lake, but that could have also been a one-time thing.
I need to show her that she can let me in, and forcing my presence is not going to help.
After killing just over thirty minutes, I finally check out and head back. When I’m standing in front of the door, though, I pause. Not wanting to just burst in unannounced in case she’s changing or something, I softly rap my knuckles against the wood. Paige calls out a muted “one second” and I wait patiently.
She opens the door and my breath catches in my throat. Her hair is wet and hanging to one side of her makeup-free face. She’s changed into a matching light pink pajama set and the fresh smell of her sweet floral body wash fills the room.
“I could have sworn I saw you grab a room key,” Paige interrupts my admiration of her and steps back to let me into the room.
Clearing my throat, I follow her into the room. “I did. I just didn’t want to walk in if you were changing and still needed privacy.”
The red that stains her cheeks and neck is slowly becoming my new favorite color. She glances down at her pajamas, tugging the tiny shorts down slightly.
“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be around…”
“Trust me, you have nothing to apologize for,” I mumble, wondering if it would be crossing a line to order her more sets just like that even if I never get to see her in them.
Not wanting to linger like a creep, I hold up the bags in my hand before setting them on the bed.
“Why don’t you find a movie while I change.” After grabbing my black gym shorts and tee, I make quick work of changing. When I step out of the bathroom, I pause at the sight in front of me.
Paige sits criss-cross on one side of the bed farthest from the door, the snacks spread out in front of her while she flips through channels on the TV. It’s such a simple thing, Paige comfortable and ready to relax, but it makes my heart skip a beat. She could have spread out on the couch and coffee table. The view of the TV would only be slightly at an angle compared to the bed. Granted, she could still tell me to fuck off and to sit on the couch by myself.
She smiles when she notices me, motioning with the remote to the open spot beside her. “Come on. Otherwise, I’m two seconds away from picking a rom-com.”
I laugh, tossing my dress clothes on top of my bag, and join her. “Fun fact. Some of my favorite movies are actually rom-coms.”
Paige snorts. “You’re just saying that.”
I grin, loving how at ease she now seems compared to when we checked in.
“Nope. I used to watch them all the time with Liv, Dominik’s mom. No one else wanted to watch them, so she and I turned it into a weekly thing for just the two of us.”
Heaviness settles in my chest at the memory.
“Well, she’s clearly a smart woman for getting one of you to appreciate them.”
“She was the best.” I clear my throat, picking up the box of crackers to distract myself.
“Shit, wait. I’m an idiot and didn’t put two and two together,” Paige starts, dropping the remote and placing a hand on my arm. “Dominik’s mom…”
She doesn’t need to finish her sentence. It’s clear in her expression that she knows what happened.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Both of his parents were in a car accident about six years ago.”
“And his sister last year,” she adds hesitantly and I can only nod. “So when you said that the Mikelsons’ took you in…”
“Liv filed for custody after my parents were arrested. For all intents and purposes, they were legally my guardians. They were the only family I actually knew.”
Paige lunges before I can think of anything else to say, falling into my lap as she wraps her arms around me. I hold her to me like it’s second nature.
“I knew the two of you were close, but it never clicked that you went through the same losses he did.” Her voice is muffled against my chest. I shrug, rearranging her slightly so she’s sitting sideways in my lap.
“Yeah, but it was different for?—”
“Someone else’s pain doesn’t lessen your own.”