“Should we go back to the room?”
“The bathroom, specifically. At least until the eye.”
“And then?”
Sebastian holds the back of my neck. There’s a tremble to his grip. “And then we get ready for round two.”
“Quincy.”
My name is soft, hushed, pulled from a dream. I sigh at the reverence behind the word.
“Quincy.”
Louder this time, and I keep my eyes shut. I bury my face in the mass beside me and try to block out the noise. Whatever I’m lying against is too firm to be a pillow, but it makes up for it in warmth. The familiar sensation of someplace that feels like home. So perfect, I never want to leave.
A gentle laugh. Fingers running through my hair and a hand on my nape. A whispered, “Sweetheart” that causes me to stir and stretch my arms above my head, pulled back to reality.
I blink and take in my surroundings. It’s dark around me. The only source of light is the flicker of a dying candle. There’s tiled bathroom walls and a vanity to my left. Arms wrapped around my stomach and a tattoo I’ve traced two dozen times.
Sebastian.
It comes back to me in flashes. Making it back to our room. The power going out and the candles we lit so we could see. Huddling in the bathtub when it sounded like a tree crashed through the window on the other side of the door and writing our names on our arms in case we got separated.
“Hi.” I clear my throat, voice scratchy. “Did I fall asleep?”
“Yeah.” He brushes away the hair sticking to the back of my neck. My skin is cool from dried sweat, and I shiver when hepresses a kiss to the curve of my shoulder. “For about an hour. For the record, you do snore, Monroe. And you’re louder than the winds.”
“Shut up.” I stretch out my legs and flex my ankles. There’s not much room to move, the porcelain tub barely big enough to fit both of us, but I take advantage of the space I have. “I can’t believe I didn’t wake up.”
“You’re exhausted. I’m surprised it took you so long to fall asleep.”
“Why is it so quiet?”
“The weather radio said the eye is making landfall now. The winds stopped ten minutes ago.”
“Oh my god.” I struggle to stand on shaky legs. I reach for the door, but Sebastian’s fingers fold over my wrist, stopping me. “What are you doing?”
“Let me go first.” He nudges me out of the way and pulls a pocketknife off his belt loop. “Please.”
“Aknife? Do you think we’re going to encounter wildlife out there?”
“It’s Florida, Quincy. There could be a bobcat roaming the lobby for all we know.”
“This isn’t the time for chivalry.”
“It is when we don’t know what’s on the other side of this door.” His other hand curls around my chin. He tilts my head back until we’re staring at each other. The light of the candle dances across his face, and he looks like he’s glowing. Something out of this world. “There could be rising water. Glass everywhere. Fuck knows what else, and I don’t want you to get hurt. This will only take a second.”
I want to be defiant and challenge him, but the concern behind his gaze makes a rush of affection wisp through me.He wants to make sure I’m going to be okay because he cares about me.
And I care about him too.
“Okay,” I finally say. “But can you be quick, please? We don’t have much time, and I don’t want to get stuck out there again.”
Sebastian leans in close. Brushes his lips against my cheek and smiles against my skin. “Anything for you, Quinny baby,” he whispers, and my heart flip-flops in my chest.
He grabs the flashlight sitting on the vanity and opens the bathroom door. I watch him disappear into the dark, holding my breath as his footsteps grow quieter and quieter, the beam from the light getting weaker.
It’s eerie being in here alone, not a sound except my breathing, and I count to pass the time. It’s better than stewing over what might be happening where I can’t see, and I get all the way to two hundred before the beam from Sebastian’s flashlight grows bright again.
