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CHAPTER 18
“Three in bed, in the bed, in the bed. Fernando roll over. Roll over, and over, and Silas fall out.” Fernando sang, with a spark of devious delight on his face as he kicked Silas in the shoulder.
“What’s he saying?” Silas asked me.
I held back a chuckle and lied, “Only the nicest things.”
“It doesn’t feel very nice,” Silas said. Skepticism pulled his features into a playful scowl.
It occurred to me as we stared into each other's eyes that I could almost see how under completely different circumstances, maybe we could be friends, or at least not antagonistic toward each other. He already appeared to be making an effort, being kind. Perhaps our rivalry could become friendlier. Perhaps we didn’t need to hold onto the negativity of the past. Perhaps if he could change, so could I.
Fernando twisted around and grinned at me. “Two in the bed, in the bed, in the bed. Fernando roll over, and over, and hug Lily.”
It seemed Fernando was pretending he’d ejected our bedmate. He grabbed my shoulder and squeezed.
I smiled back at him and gave him a gentle pat, then closed my eyes. I lay on my back and listened to Fernando hum his song. For the first time in I didn’t know how long, I drifted off to sleep feeling like I may actually get a decent rest.
Warm light hitmy closed eyes. I rolled away, not ready to accept that my sleep was over. As I stretched my arms out, I didn’t feel Fernando. I felt cold, empty sheets.
I opened my eyes.
One in the bed—only me.
I shot upright and scanned the room. Silas’s coat was gone, as were his shoes.
“Silas?” I called. “Fernando?”
Had they left together without telling me? Had Silas sneaked off to work the mission without me, and Fernando, my loyal friend, had followed to keep an eye on him? Worry made my insides seize up.
Silas had said he didn’t care about his claim over my office. He’d said he didn’t care about this mission. He’d seemed so sincere. I’d almost believed…he cared about me. I was such a fool.
The door flew open, and I bolted to my feet.
Fernando rolled into the room with a white box in his hands and a huge grin on his face.
“Fernando, where have you been? What happened to Silas? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You were snoring,” Silas said as he entered the room behind Fernando.
“Everyone snores,” I said.
“Not like you do.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to figure out what his play was. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Silas buycake.”Fernando shook the box in his hands at me.
“Cake? Why cake? Cake is not an appropriate breakfast,” I said.
“That’s why I also bought eggs and toast.” Silas opened packages and placed them in the center of the bed.
None of this made any sense. Why was he being so nice? Or maybe he wasn’t…maybe he was going to eat it all in front of me without sharing.
“I bought cake because it’s your birthday, sweetheart,” Silas said, leaning in close. “Happy birthday, Lily.”
I got lost in the volcanic scent of him, the electric heat of his closeness, and the confusing sensations that closeness invoked. I was so lost that it took me a moment to realize what he’d just said.
Happy birthday, Lily.
