Page 148 of Reeves

I twist under Reeves's arm, urgency flooding my system. My heart pounds so hard I can feel it in my fingers and toes.

"Reeves." I shake his shoulder, keeping my voice barely above a whisper. "Reeves, wake up."

He stirs but doesn't open his eyes. His arm tightens around me instinctively.

"Reeves!" I hiss more urgently, digging my fingers into his bicep. "You have to get up. Now."

His eyes finally open, unfocused and confused. Too slow. Way too slow.

"Get up. Go. Bathroom. Now." The words come out sharp and clipped. "Benjy can't see you here."

Understanding flickers across his face, and he sits up quickly, the sheet falling away from his chest.

I'm already scrambling out of bed, grabbing my robe from the chair, and pulling it around myself. My hands shake as I tie the belt.

The footsteps are outside of my door now.

I scan the room frantically. His camo pants are crumpled on the floor beside the bed. I lunge for them, snatching them up just as the bedroom door handle turns.

"Shit," I breathe, shoving the pants under the covers.

The bathroom door closes gently just as Benjy walks in.

My pulse hammers against my ribs, but I turn to face the door with what I hope looks like sleepy normalcy.

"Mommy?"

Benjy's voice is small and uncertain. He stands in the doorway wearing his dinosaur pajamas, hair sticking up in every direction.

"Hey, baby." My voice sounds remarkably steady. "You woke up on your own."

"I had a dream about tanks." He rubs his eyes with one fist. "Can I come snuggle?"

My throat closes. This is exactly what he does on weekend mornings when he wakes up too early. He crawlsinto my bed, and we doze together until the sun comes up properly.

Except Reeves is standing frozen in my bathroom, shirtless and trying not to breathe too loudly.

"Just for a minute. Then we have to get ready for school." The words come out automatically, even as my mind races.

Benjy pads across the room and climbs up onto the bed, settling into his usual spot on my right side. The side where Reeves was sleeping minutes ago.

I slide back under the covers, hyperaware of the warmth still trapped in the sheets. Of Reeves's pants bunched up somewhere near my feet.

"Were the tanks scary?" I whisper, pulling Benjy close.

My eyes stay fixed on the bathroom door, willing Reeves to stay perfectly still until I can figure out how to get us out of here and him out of my bathroom without getting caught.

Benjy nuzzles against me, his small body radiating warmth. But instead of snuggling deeper like usual, he tilts his head up, studying my face with those sharp green eyes.

"Where's Reeves?"

My stomach drops. "What do you mean, baby?"

"His truck is still outside." Benjy points toward the window. "The big black one."

Think. Think fast.

"He must have gone for a walk on the beach." The words tumble out too quickly. "You know how he likes the water."