AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sitting on the couch, I rest my head back to stare up at the ceiling.
What am I doing here? What am I going to tell Luke when he arrives? I have to tell him something. I can’t go back to the house tonight, not if Taylor is going to be there and not if Finley is going to look at me like that again, with so much concern and pity.
I jolt up when a thought strikes like a bolt of lightning.
What if Luke comes back with Laila? What if they come here to—?
I cut the thought off before I make myself sick.
I stand up. Surely I can break into one of the other cabins. It might be a little cold, but they keep them warm enough to prevent the pipes from freezing.
I’m almost to the door when it swings open.
Luke blinks. “Hey. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. It’s just . . . I, you know, everything with Taylor.” I stare down at my hands fidgeting in front of me. I clasp them together and then meet his steady gaze. “I can’t stay up at the house. Can I stay here? I’ll sleep on the couch.”
He shuts the door behind him, taking a step toward me. “Of course you can stay here but you’re definitely sleeping on the bed. I can take the couch.”
I bite my lip. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” His brow creases. “Do you want to talk?”
I shake my head. “No. I just want to go to sleep.”
He nods. “No problem. Let me get my things from upstairs.”
I stand in the entryway while he winds his way up the steps. I’m being incredibly selfish, putting him out like this, but I don’t know what else to do. I can’t go back to the house. I can’t offer to share the bed. Knowing Luke, I’ll never convince him to let me take the couch.
When he comes back down, he’s holding a pillow and blanket, and he’s changed into sweats and a T-shirt. “Do you need anything?” he asks.
“No. Yes. Just one more thing. Can I go with you tomorrow?”
His brows lift to his hairline. “You want to come home with me for Thanksgiving?” his voice has gone up three octaves.
I wince. “I know it’s last minute and it’s probably weird and rude and you can say no, and I’m so sorry I—”
“Mindy, it’s fine. Of course you can come.”
“Are you sure? Your parents would be okay with that?”
He huffs. “My mom will be thrilled. My sisters will love to have someone they can interrogate about me.” He points at me. “Don’t say I haven’t warned you.”
“An interrogation would be relaxing compared to spending the day with Taylor.”
He nods thoughtfully. “Family can be hard.”
“Some more than others.”
He reaches out, gently setting his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t even worry about it. Try to get some rest. Things will look better in the morning. If you need anything, I’ll be the one snoring on the couch.”
Despite the stress of the past hour, a smile pulls at my mouth. “Thank you.”
I go upstairs with my overnight bag and get ready for bed quickly, sliding into sheets that smell like Luke, like clean soap and sandalwood.
He is so tempting.
I am such a mess.
