Page 145 of Pretty Thing

Shit. I know he says this is my home, but I don’t want to get caught snooping. I jump out of the closet and quickly shove all his clothes over. I’m smoothing my hair when he comes into the room, smiling.

“Hey, I was calling your name, didn’t you hear me?”

“I…um…” I clear my throat and look down. “Sorry, lost in thought.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah.”

The word comes out a little too fast. Can he tell I feel guilty?

“I mean as fine as one can be considering the circumstances.” I look up at him. “I heard from Kris. The funeral will be in two days. They don’t know when his body will be released because of the investigation, so I guess it’s more a celebration of life…I don’t know.”

And now I’m sad again. My emotions are dangerous to my health.

“Okay, I’ll make sure Matt can cover for me.”

He steps into the room, walks over, and grips my shoulders. I search his face, but all I see is concern.

“Eden…are you sure you’re okay?”

He glances at the closet but doesn’t seem worried or suspicious.

“I will be. I finished hanging up all the clothes. Thank you again. Um…do you know you have a secret door in your closet?”

Felix doesn’t flinch.

“Yeah, it’s storage. I keep it locked so that if anyone breaks in, they can’t get at my passport and any other important documents. Is that what has you upset?”

Of course, it’s storage. Why do I let my imagination run wild?

“I think Kyle’s murder has me on edge.”

Felix treats me with such kindness and devotion that it only makes me feel stupider. He’s been so sweet and caring, and here I am suspicious of a door.

What is wrong with me?

“I can understand that, but, Eden…”

He suddenly seems uncomfortable.

“What is it?”

“I know Kris is hurting from the loss of her brother. But it worries me that every time you’re with her, you come away questioning me. I never thought you, of all people, would do that to me.”

His face falls, and my heart lurches in my chest.

“I just wish I knew why Kris dislikes me so much and wants to put ideas about me in your head.”

“I don’t know why either. You’re right…I shouldn’t let her get in my head.”

He takes a deep breath and kisses me.

“Eden, what we have is irreplaceable. No one other than us will ever fully understand that we fit because we are shaped by tragedy. The crash bonded us and brought us together when we needed one another the most. How can anyone but us understand that?”

Felix’s words light me up inside. He’s right. No one will ever understand what we have.

“I love you more than you will ever know.”