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Her nose tingled, winter’s kiss pressed upon her chilled face. Her back was burning up and a heavy weight rested across her legs like lead.
Lucian? No. Parker.
She opened her eyes and caught the pink haze of dawn tingeing the blue night into shades of crimson over the city. The temperatures had dropped overnight, and vapor formed as each breath passed her lips.
Something was different inside of her, lighter, almost hopeful. Was it because Parker was there?
“You up?”
Scout slowly rotated her head until Parker’s green eyes came into view. They were very close, closer than they’d ever been. Small flecks of brown, olive, and gold swam in his emerald irises. She nodded.
Neither of them moved. She wondered if he was cataloguing all the awkward traits of waking up so close to her. His gaze moved over her face. “Your nose is red.”
She sniffled. They should probably go inside where it was warm, but she feared climbing out from the protective blanket.
Suddenly his body stretched, hard planes curving along her softer parts. His head tipped back and he groaned, shaking slightly as his muscles extended. Then he was standing.
The absence of his body’s heat was jarring. A chill immediately took his place. She snuggled under the blanket and watched him continue a round of motions meant to awaken his limbs.
“This sleeping outside shit is for the birds, Scout. I think I’ve done enough involuntary camping in my life to know better. I’ll take a roof whenever it’s offered.”
“You could have slept on the couch.”
He shrugged. “I came to be with you. You were out here.” His back cracked. The cold definitely had a way of making a person stiff. “I’ve got to use the bathroom. Do you have anything to eat here?”
She stared up at him. Didn’t he know her world was in shambles? Who could think about food at a time like this? Yet, her life didn’t seem as much a mess as it had yesterday.
“There’s stuff in the pantry and the fridge. Help yourself.”
A few minutes after Parker disappeared into the house, she shifted into a sitting position and slowly stood. Wrapping the blanket over her like a shawl, she headed inside.
He sat at the counter, hunched over a bowl of cereal. He’d put on weight since last fall.
“This milk’s about to expire. You better use it up.”
She frowned.
“So,” he said with a mouth full of mushed flakes. “Should we go job hunting for you today?”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I took off until Monday. I figured you probably needed a hand. Sorry it took me this long to find you.”
She still didn’t know how he’d managed that. “How did you find me?”
His shoulder lifted with nonchalant grace. “Word gets around.”
He was being cryptic, but before she could ask more, he said, “Do you get a paper? We should look over the want ads.”
“I don’t get the paper.” She shot him a telling look. What would an illiterate person want with the paper?
“Don’t give me that look. You can read.”
“Parker—”
“Scout,” he said knowingly, mimicking her tone. “I’ve heard you read. Don’t act like you’re illiterate when you haven’t been for quite some time.”
She scoffed. “Compared to you I am.”
“So? Just because you aren’t the best reader doesn’t mean you can’t. Eat breakfast and we’ll go get a paper.”
“I’m not hungry.”
His head tilted and his spoon stilled, a pile of bran-colored flakes dribbling close to the edge. “Scout, don’t be a waif. When food is offered to you, you take it. You know better than that. Don’t be dramatic.”
He shoveled the spoonful of cereal in his mouth, and she scowled at him, half tempted to tell him to get out, but at the same time terrified he might leave. Her face tight, she marched into the kitchen and retrieved a bowl. She ate beside him in silence, calling him all sorts of insensitive names in her head.
Her stomach rejoiced at the sustenance being offered. She was starving. Her brain just forgot to relay the message.
***
There were several job openings in the area, but only a few Scout felt capable enough to apply to. She and Parker sat on the carpet in the living room, various pages of classifieds strewn around them.
“You should think about getting a license. There are lots of openings for drivers.”
“I don’t have a car,” she said.
“They give you a car or a truck.”
“I don’t know. That all takes time. I need to make money now. I don’t want to stay here longer than I have to.”
Parker’s eyes met hers. “Did he give you a time frame of when you had to . . .”
She frowned. He said he’d be back in a month. She didn’t want to still be there by then, especially if he didn’t come back for her. Her heart would never survive more broken promises. “No. I’d just rather cut all ties.”
