Page 64 of The Storm

I press my lips together. “At least a little bit longer.”

Instead of saying anything, he holds his hand out between us. There’s not enough room to shake, but somehow we manage. His warm palm against mine. His skin against my skin. He doesn’t let go and neither do I. We’re holding hands.

My thumb shifts without me thinking about it, brushing over the back of his hand. His fingers tighten, gripping more firmly. I keep moving my thumb back and forth over his skin. His eyes follow the movement. Neither of us says anything else, but his eyelids get heavier and heavier.

He falls asleep.

Eventually, I close my eyes too.

FIFTEEN

INDY

Going back home is strange.It’s not like we’ve been away for years. It’s been a few days. Walking in the front door still feels like I’m an alien stepping onto a new planet though, and it’s not because of the house. It’s because of the person who comes in after me.

What now?

With everything that’s happened, will coming back home be like a reset button, and we’ll just go back to how things were? Are we going to pretend that nothing happened? I’m not sure I know how.

I take a quick glance over my shoulder at where Nick is toeing off his sneakers. It’s something he’s done thousands of times before, and it’s not the first time I’ve been nervous while he does it. I’ve been here before. Waiting for him to look up. Setting my expectations to him being a dick.

It’s like déjà vu, only not really.

I’m not nervous that he’s going to be a dick. He won’t be. I’ve seen behind the walls. I’vebeenbehind those walls at this point. What would be the point in him trying to hide behind them? I don’t think there is any, and I don’t think he’ll be stupid enough to try.

So the questions becomes… what happens now?

We had sex.

It’s the first time I’ve had a moment to acknowledge it. I’m suddenly all sharp corners. Where do I put my hands? Where do I look? Donotblush.

He finally looks up. Opens his mouth.

“Go. Nick.” Mom’s voice carries from the living room.

Nick clamps his mouth shut and gestures for me to go ahead of him.

I stay put. “I?—”

“Go!” Dia yells.

I rub over my face, lose my determination, turn around, and stalk to the living room.

I’m so busy berating myself for being a coward, so distracted, that when I step into the living room and a bunch of people yell “Surprise!” I jump and let out a yelp.

Fucking hell, that’s a lot of people.

I stare at everyone gathered in the living room, all the friends and family, and all I really want is to turn around and run away.

“It’s a welcome home party,” Dia says as she rushes forward and hugs me. She whispers into my ear, “Mom pulled it all together last night. Just go with it. People have been going crazy these last few days.”

I breathe in and pat her on the back before I put on the widest grin I can manage. “Wow!” I say. “You guys. You shouldn’t have.”

Mom waves me off.

I smell like a hospital, and I’m still dressed in the sweats and T-shirt I slept in.

I stretch the smile a bit wider.