AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey!” I answered.
Nora sounded like she usually did—sad.
“Hey, I just wanted to check in.”
Nora was not only my brother Colson’s girlfriend but also the owner of the house I was currently staying in. She had a spare room and told me to stay as long as I wanted.
She was one of the good ones. I knew because I was practically a pro at picking out the bad ones.
“Things are good. I haven’t burned anything down,” I joked, eyeing the oven. The first time I burned a dish of food, I had called her because it did sort of catch on fire. She assured me it was fine, and that I hadn’t ruined anything, but I had to keep the windows open for a long time. She doesn’t know this, but I checked into a hotel that night because it was too damn cold to stay here.
She laughed softly.
“Good. Well I just wanted to tell you that I’m still unsure of my plans. I feel like it might be time to come back, but I don’t know. It’s so peaceful up here…”
We were going on seven days since she’d left. Colson was a mess. Unfortunately, I didn’t know either of them well enough to get involved.
“Well, do whatever you feel is right. Things are good here. I’m fine. The house is good.” I stopped, not wanting to mention my brother.
“Well, I’ll text you again in a few days. I should know by then when I’ll be coming back.”
“Okay, sounds good. And Nora?”
I slammed my eyes shut, digging my fingers into the counter.
“Yeah?”
“Colson misses you, but he’s all right. Take the time you need.”
She waited a second, sniffed, and with a wobbly voice, replied, “Okay. Thanks, Haley.”
I set the phone back down on the counter and looked around. Now, how the heck do I get the house to feel a little warmer?
2
LIAM
The beepingfrom downstairs woke me.
It was echoing through the house, which meant the kitchen fire alarm was blaring. Warm sunlight fought with my wooden shades to illuminate the white carpet in my room as I lifted my head to see into the hall through my open door. Maddy wasn’t running and neither was Seraphina, which meant it wasn’t a fire. But just to be sure, I tugged my phone off the charger next to my bed, then opened one eye and navigated my home screen.
Pulling up the app to check the camera set up in the kitchen, I ensured there were no flames or any smoke before letting out a groan.
I set the phone down, turned to my back and yelled. “Mila!”
She wouldn’t hear me. Still, it was early, and I didn’t want to get up. The incessant noise continued, and my five-year-old wasn’t materializing in front of me.
Closing my eyes, I tried again. “Maddy! Mila!”
Seraph would still be sleeping, even with the noise, she’d learned how to sleep through just about anything.
Finally, the beeping stopped, and I heard the sound of little feet thumping up the stairs.
“Sorry, Daddy,” Mila said in that extra sugar-sweet tone she knew made it impossible to stay mad at her.
I turned over and hung my arm over my eyes. “What did you make?”
Her silence had me popping open one eye just in time to watch her tiny fingers come together and twist.
