Page 68 of Ballrooms & Blackmail

I smile faintly.

RIVER: It’s late and the girls are gone.

There’s a long pause.

Then—

THORN: I know. I’m sorry, little hen. I got caught up. I’ll be a while longer.

RIVER: Oh, okay.

THORN: Don’t wait up.

I nibble at my bottom lip, can’t resist teasing him.

RIVER: What if I WANT to wait for you?

This time the silence stretches longer.

Then finally?—

THORN: Don’t, little hen. Don’t wait for me.

My lungs expand in a rush as disappointment ripples through me. Then I table that. This has been a lot for him too—a lot of feelings and changes and vulnerabilitie.

And I still don’t know everything.

My heart aches softly at the realization but I just type out,

RIVER: Try not to work too hard.

Three dots appear.

Disappear.

And…stay gone.

More disappointment I struggle to tamp down as I curl into the corner of the couch with one of my blankets wrapped around me and read my book, frowning when I find the bookmark in a different place. I turn to where I left off and quickly get sucked into the story.

But soon enough my eyes start burning.

I must fall asleep after that.

Because the next thing I know, strong arms are lifting me carefully from the couch.

I stir against a familiar chest. “What?—?”

“Sleep, little hen,” Thorn murmurs.

“Missed you,” I mumble sleepily.

Quiet then, “Me too.”

The knot in my belly loosens as he carries me into the bedroom and lowers me carefully onto the mattress.

I catch his wrist immediately. “Stay.”

Thorn brushes back my hair, climbs in beside me. “I will,” he murmurs.