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“That smells good,” I say.
He does a lot of the cooking, which surprised me at first. I had no idea he was so domesticated.
“Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving. I worked up an appetite this morning.”
He smirks. “Your brother phoned while you were in the shower.”
“Which one?”
“Lucas. He suggested you could visit Sariah if you feel up to it.”
Sariah was in a similar position to me before she married Luke. She was pushed by her father into marrying an older man, but Luke married her before it could happen.
She’s also close in age to me, and I like my sister-in-law. Of all my brothers’ wives, she’s the one I’m probably closest to.
“That would be good.”
I’m starting to get cabin fever, so any excuse to leave the apartment, even if it’s only to go a floor up, is a welcome change.
Ryan serves up breakfast, adding some toast to our plates. We eat, and talk about nothing and everything. It’s so easy with him. I don’t feel under pressure to say clever things. I don’t have to guard my words either, which I’ve always had to be mindful of when my mother was parading me out in front of her allies and friends.
The wrong word could destroy already fragile relationships.
It’s a relief to just be myself.
There are no expectations.
When we’re done, we leave the apartment. Ryan is careful, his easy demeanour gone as he scans the corridor. Even though the building is secure and has good security, Ryan is still cautious as we head to the lifts that will take us to the penthouse suite.
In the lift, I slip my hand into his, needing to draw comfort from him. He peers at me, squeezing me back. I know he’ll never let anything happen to me. I know he’ll keep me safe no matter what, but I need his reassurance right now.
When the lift pings, we release each other instantly and he steps out first, checking it’s safe before I follow him.
I can smell something cooking. We follow the scent into the kitchen area. Sariah is at the counter, flour over the countertop and on her cheeks.
She glances up as we approach, a smile on her face.
“Aurelia! I wondered if you’d come by today. Luke said he’d asked.”
Ryan glances around the space before he turns to me. “I’ll wait in the control room. Don’t leave.”
“I won’t,” I assure him. He gives me a lingering look before he goes into the small office where the security cameras are located. He doesn’t shut the door fully, but enough to give us the illusion of privacy. I wish we didn’t have to pretend. I wish we could be together like a normal couple, but that can’t happen.
Sariah signals for me to come to her and then she pulls me into her arms. “How are you?” she asks.
“Tired,” I admit.
“I understand,” she says. “You’re going through a lot.”
I draw a face in the flour, giving it a big smile. It probably should be sad, but I don’t feel that way, even with the threats hanging over me.
“How did you deal with the constant threat of being married to a stranger?” I ask her.
Her mouth turns down at the corners, and I suddenly feel bad for bringing up bad memories. Jeremiah messed us both up for different reasons.
“You don’t have to answer,” I say. “Sorry.”
