Page 23 of Into The Light

He carried me to my bed and set me down on the sheets with great care. His arm slid out from under my head as I lay it back on the pillow.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I stared up at him while he sat crouched at my bedside.

“For what?”

“For being so, ‘damsel in distressy’, or whatever.”

Damsel in distressy? What the hell am I even saying? Ugh.

The concern on his face wavered and made way for another one of those almost smiles. At this rate I might get a smile with teeth by the time my five years ended.

“No need to apologize. Just get some rest. Please, let me know if there is anything you need. Anything at all.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded and slid his arm the rest of the way out from under me. I hated to feel it go. He walked out of the room and glanced over his shoulder before turning down the hall. His blue eyes were so light they nearly glowed in the shadow of the dark room.

I stared at the empty doorframe and still pictured him standing there. I could still feel the coolness on my skin where his arms had been. He was cold, but not freezing. His skin felt like he had been out for a walk on a brisk, fall day. I snuggled down into my feather comforter. I had been right, Egyptian. Sleep rolled over me before Mark had even made it up with my snack.

***

“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Mark stood above me blinking and... oh, that smell.

“Coffee.” I searched for the source through hazy eyes. My fingers found the cup and pulled it to my lips while I sat up.

“Careful, it’s hot.”

“Just how I like it.”

The scalding liquid stung my lip, but I pushed through the pain. The pounding in my head had but one nemesis... coffee.

“How are you feeling, sweetie? Are you all right? You almost took a tumble there last night.”

Mark felt like a mother as he stroked my hair. I liked it. Mine hadn’t been around much or very attentive when she was there. It felt nice having him with me. He was a welcome sight and a comfort while I assessed the intensity of my headache.

“Damn, my head hurts.”

“Here. Ibuprofen. Take these.” He slipped them into my hand and tugged the coffee from my other one. I resisted, furrowing as if he was taking away my favorite toy.

“Let. Go.” He chuckled and gave it one last tug, almost splashing the liquid as he ripped it from my grasp. “Pills with water first. Hydrate. Then you can have your bubbie back.”

Following orders, I swallowed my pills and guzzled my water. Cotton mouth tattled that a hangover was part of my problem.

“Shower. I’ll get breakfast. Then what do you think... you, me, pool?”

“I’m down with that.” A dip in the pool sounded amazing. “What about Aiden? Will he be joining us?”

Mark shook his head. “No, sweetie. It’s daytime. He’s locked in a light-tight room resting those baby blues.”

“Daytime. Right. That whole vampire thing.”

“Yeah. The vampire thing. Kind of a downer for daytime pool parties. The whole smoking and bursting into flames isn’t the best way to start the day.”

Laughing, I pushed myself up and out of bed. I still wore my dress from last night, and my shoes with it. Realizing I had slept in a pair of pink, sparkly Jimmy Choos may have been the highlight of my life.

“I’ll see you by the pool.” Mark left me to get my bearings and try to regain some sort of humanity.