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As I gently brush her hair, she stays silent, closing her eyes.I kneel in front of her and lift her chin to get her to look at me. “Let’s get you into bed.”
Her mouth twitched, a frown etched across her forehead. Her gray eyes finally met mine. They were red and swollen like she had been crying for hours, and she looked like she was miles away in her head.
Moving up the bed, she rested against the headboard and let me cover her legs with her pumpkin-colored comforter.
“I am going to change my clothes, and I will be right back, okay?”
Again, she nodded.I close her door and head to my room. I pull off my wet clothes and change into a fresh dark grey t-shirt and navy sweatpants.
Everett and Sarah were waiting for me outside Ava’s room, their faces full of worry.
“Is she ok?” Everett asked, his voice laced with concern.
“I don’t know. She was crying when I went in there.” My throat was dry as I rubbed the back of my neck.
“I made her some broth. I would bring it to her, but maybe it would be better if you did.” Sarah handed me the bowl.
“Let us know if we can do anything to help. We are here for her.” Everett gave me a sad smile.
“We have everything else handled downstairs. Everything is secure.” Sarah reassured, then nudged Everett to follow her back downstairs.
I wait a few seconds before heading back to Ava’s room. I hesitate for a moment before entering her room again.
Nothing had changed; Ava was still curled up on the bed, facing away from me.
I place the soup on her nightstand and sit beside her, my arm brushing against hers ever so slightly.
“Sarah made you some broth in case you were hungry.”
“Ava, I am sorry about the photo. We should have vetted the mail at the shop. I don’t know how that slipped past us.”
My words hung in the air, and all that followed was an unsettling silence until she finally spoke.
“If you need anything, I will be next door or downstairs.” Maybe leaving her was the best thing I could do for her now.
I stood up and headed towards the door.
“James?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
I turn to face her and see her grey eyes full of tears looking at me pleadingly.
“Stay with me. Please,” she whispers, her voice trembling with emotion.
I creep back to her bed, aching to be near her. She scoots closer so I can get under the covers, and I greedily gulp up every inch of her body against mine. Her small frame presses into me like she was made to fit there. At that moment, we became one as I enveloped her in my arms.
The tears kept flowing down her face, and my heart ached with every sob that left her mouth. I watched silently as the sun began its descent until finally, the last light disappeared, and her crying slowed to a whimper before; finally, she slipped off into an exhausted sleep.
My eyes drooped heavily, and soon enough, I followed her into dreamland, cradling her close in my longing embrace.
FIFTEEN
AVA
My eyes are bloodshot and sting like acid when I open them, relishing in the morning sun that was raining rainbows across my bedroom. A welcome reminder that a new day had come and a sense of hope that I could outrun yesterday's nightmares.
James lay peacefully next to me, his chest rising and falling with each steady breath. I wanted to watch him sleep for an eternity, but I knew time was ticking, and eventually, I'd have to wake him.
A surge of electricity sparked through my body as I thought about the strength of his arms around me. His scent lingered on my skin, and I could smell hints of mahogany and evergreen mixed in complete harmony.
