Page 277 of Nobody's Girl

Yep, that worked. I can’t think about anything but him!

Once we’re able to catch our breath, Eden pulls me to spoon with him as he runs his hands along my side. In no time, I find I’m falling asleep, and just before I do, I find Eden must’ve fallen asleep and his dream starts in my head. I shudder as I watch myself die in his arms again.

Will we be able to stop this from happening?

CHAPTER 48

ALYSSA

I wait semi- patiently in the living room for their arrival. Laura texted me nearly twenty minutes ago, letting me know they were in the car and on the way here. I just hope our secret doesn’t show itself in front of her somehow.

The doorbell finally rings. I jump and run to the door, flinging it open. There stand my two best friends in the world. They both have beaming smiles on their faces. Their presence makes me realize I missed them even more than I thought I had.

“Ahhh,” I scream and jump up and down.

Laura does the same as Kyle shakes his head. “Girls … they’re so over the top. It’s only been a month.”

Laura and I grab each other up into a hug as we hop around. “Well, hello, Kyle. I’m glad to see you again,” the ever polite and eloquent Eden greets Kyle.

I stop jumping, trying to act more like a lady. I hold Laura close to me though, not ready to let her go. Her shoulder-length blonde hair is so shiny and soft. I have to touch it. Her sparkling blue eyes are lit up with excitement.

I see Eden shake Kyle’s hand and think to myself he needs to stop being so freaking formal. I let go of Laura so Eden can shake her hand, or whatever he’s going to do to welcome her, and then turn to Kyle.

Crap! My heart’s beating so damn hard and he and Eden both know it.

“You better get over here and hug me, boy,” I say with a smile.

He smiles sheepishly at me and holds his arms out for me. I almost jump into them, hugging him tight. I have to fight the urge to wrap my legs around his waist as he holds me off the ground. I release my grip on him, standing back to take a look at him. His blonde curls fall across his forehead, almost touching his eyes.

‘I missed you too, Ally,’ Kyle sends to me.

My heart aches as I just want to cuddle up with him and let him make me feel safe and secure. “God, am I glad to see the two of you!” I say as I move away from him, going to hang on my husband’s arm.

Remember who it is you’re made for, girl!

Laura smiles as she looks around the room. “This place, Ally! It’s beyond anything I could’ve imagined your parents living in.”

“Our guests might like to freshen up after their long ride, Alyssa,” Eden says. “You should show them to their rooms and give them a chance to do that before lunch is served. I hope you both like alligator and shrimp, as our chef and his staff came to prepare that for us this afternoon in honor of your visit. We know you had a light breakfast on the jet. You have to be famished.”

Kyle looks at Eden and surprises the complete hell out of me. “Hell, yeah, guy, that’s completely cool. Thanks Eden,” Kyle tells him, then holds his fist up. Again to my surprise, Eden holds his fist up and they bump their fists together.

I try to hide the surprise, but Eden catches it and smiles at me. He’s so full of surprises. My heart skips a beat as I feel so much love for him at this moment. This can’t be easy for him to have Kyle here.

Gesturing for them to follow me, I lead them upstairs. “Come on, guys. Follow me.”

I hold Laura’s hand as Kyle follows close behind us. “Al, this place is beautiful. I can’t believe any of this. It’s like a dream. Your mom must be over the moon with this.”

I smile at her. “She sure is.”

We walk down the hall and then come to the bedroom door I picked for her. It’s at the end of the hallway and Kyle’s is right across from it. I open her door, showing her to her room first. The room is beautiful, with a large bed in the middle of it. The bedspread is her favorite shade of dark green, as are the curtains.

“Go ahead, check it all out, and don’t forget to look in the dressers and the closet. Those are all yours, Laura,” I tell her.

She turns to look at me in astonishment, “You know you didn’t have to do all this, Ally.”  I just smile at her. Then I turn to Kyle.

I hope he likes his room as much as Laura seems to like hers.

“Right across the hall is you. Just like I told Laura, Kyle, check it all out. Everything is yours,” I tell him as I walk the short distance to open the door to his room.