That should have made me nervous.Instead, it didn’t.Which was probably another sign I was running on fumes.
We climbed the stairs, and the second floor was quieter.Wheels stopped three doors down on the right.“This one’s yours.”
He opened the door and I stepped inside.
The room was basic.A bed.A dresser.A television.Nothing fancy and nothing unnecessary.
Honestly, it looked perfect.
Wheels pointed across the hallway.“Bathroom’s right there.”
I nodded.“Okay.”
My backpack slid from my shoulder and landed on the floor.The simple act nearly made me groan with relief.I was exhausted and closed my eyes.
When I looked up, Wheels was still standing there.
Watching me.
His blue eyes met mine, and for a second, something strange fluttered in my stomach.
Awareness.Heat.Or maybe I was just delirious from lack of sleep.That seemed far more likely.
“You okay?”he asked.His voice had softened.
I nodded.“Yeah.”
“You don’t look okay.”
A laugh escaped me.“That’s because I’m not.”
One corner of his mouth lifted.“I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything.”
Something about the way he said it settled another tiny piece of anxiety inside me.
“Okay.”
His gaze lingered for another second, then he stepped backward.“Get some sleep, Goldie.”
The door clicked shut, and silence filled the room.
I stared at it for a moment and then at the bed.Then back at the door.The room felt safe.Safer than anywhere had in days.Maybe weeks.
I kicked off my shoes and didn’t bother unpacking, changing clothes, or doing anything except crawl beneath the blanket.
The mattress might as well have been heaven.I barely got comfortable before my eyes closed.
The last thing I remembered was thinking that maybe, just maybe, I’d survive long enough to see morning.Then exhaustion finally won.
Chapter Three
Wheels
Goldie was still asleep.
I tipped the wooden chair back onto two legs and braced one boot against the wall across from her door.The chair creaked under me like it was about two seconds from dumping my ass on the floor, but I didn’t move.
The hallway was quiet.
