“Oh. I mean…”
“It’s fine,” he said in a rush. “I know what you meant. Um. Thanks, Vanya.”
I nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see me. “Yes. You are welcome.”
This time, when I headed down the hall for the bedroom, he didn’t stop me. As I closed the door to my room behind me, I could hear the tinny voice onhis phone start speaking, and as much as I wanted to listen, even if I spoke perfect English, I knew I wouldn’t be able to understand. The speed he and his brother had set their phones to was damn near impossible to follow.
It was just as well. I had another crisis fall on my shoulders the moment I glanced around the room and realized something very, very important.
I had a second bedroom, but right now, it was full of my sister’s things.
Which meant there was only one bed in the place.
And that bed was mine.
I panicked through my shower, then through dressing in sweats, then through creeping back down the hall, hoping that Micah was both done with his messages and still here. He could have easily fled while I was washing my hair with hands trembling like fall leaves.
But he hadn’t run.
He was on the sofa where I left him, head tipped back, the fingers of one hand massaging the bridge of his nose. He jolted a little when I cleared my throat, but he didn’t budge otherwise.
“So. We have…problem.”
That got him to sit up all the way. “Don’t tell me that fucker followed us here.”
My eyes went wide. “Oh. No. I don’t think so.” I fought the urge to run outside and check, but even ifhe did get to this place, he didn’t have the code for the door. “No, is just…” I bit my lip for a second. “My sister’s staying with me. She’s gone for the rest of the week, but the other room with a bed is hers. She’s not a fan of people in her space.”
Micah’s expression dropped. “Hey, it’s cool. I can probably grab a hotel, or…”
“What? No! Sleepover,” I said. I felt suddenly frantic to keep him here. “And you can have my bed. I can sleep on sofa?—”
“Vanya, I mean this in a kind way. Like, I know I’m kind of a dick, but I promise I’m not trying to be one right now.”
I lifted a brow. “Dick about what?”
Micah’s fingers traced over the top of the cushion to his right. “I can tell you bought this for the aesthetic. The way it looks,” he added. “Which is one thing I will never understand about sighted people. Why the fuck do you people keep getting uncomfortable things just because they look nice?”
“I—well…”
He wasn’t wrong. The sofa was not the most comfortable bit of furniture I owned. But I didn’t buy it. It came with the house. I hadn’t wanted to bother with decorating or anything like that, so they negotiated the cost of the furniture, and the only thing I got for myself was my bed.
And my bed was comfortable.
“Sorry,” Micah said softly. “But you can’t sleep on this thing.”
“Okay, maybe you’re right. But the floor?—”
“Vanya!”
I froze, silent and confused.
He let out a puff of air. “You’re not sleeping on the floor of your own home either. I can get a hotel.”
I crossed the room and flopped next to him, yanking his hand in between both of mine, and I squeezed. “Tonight was bad.” I licked my lips, searching for all the right words. “That man is bad.”
“Yes,” Micah whispered.
“I want you to be safe. So stay here. I can sleep on the floor, or?—”
