Page 34 of Restoration

I stay in the water for a long time, and he stays with me, still shooting me concerned glances. I keep trying to swallow down the surge of emotions so I can return to my sensible self.

Finally I decide there’s no reason not to get out, so I wade back to the beach and stand there dripping.

I rub my hands over my arms and legs, then pull my tank top away from my chest to squeeze some of the water from it.

Edmund has gotten out with me. He’s peering at me silently.

“I’m okay,” I tell him in a wobbly voice.

“Are you?”

For some reason, that’s what does it. I burst into tears.

I have no idea why. Some sort of aftermath of the fear and disgust. I bawl like a baby as he pulls me toward him, wrapping his arms around me, so I cry against his bare chest.

I weep for a long time, and there’s probably more to the crying than the spider aftermath.

Edmund doesn’t question it. He doesn’t say anything. He holds me tight and doesn’t let me go until I finally pull away.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t know what got into me.”

“I think that’s probably a natural reaction to having a big spider crawling over you while you sleep.”

“Yeah. I guess so.” I wipe my face with both hands. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me again.” He reaches over to tuck my wet hair back behind my ears. “To tell you the truth, I kind of like when I can help you.”

“You do?” I ask with a sniff.

He nods, looking softer, warmer, more tender than he usually does. It makes my heart burst into flutters. “So I can take care of you occasionally instead of you always taking care of me.”

My breath hitches in my throat. I lower my eyes before peeking up at him through my lashes. “I don’t mind taking care of you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He moves his hand from my hair to my cheek and cups it possessively. “Autumn.”

For a moment I’m absolutely positive that he’s about to kiss me.

But he doesn’t.

He makes an odd little noise in his throat and then takes an abrupt step backward, dropping his hand.

I let out a breath.

The spider is gone, and the moment is over.

It’s time to get back to normal between us.