Page 229 of Nyx

The clubhouse is quiet. It has been all day. Melissa and Caroline didn't go to work this morning. They, along with Dana and the kids, have stayed in their safe space all day.

No one else has been through the clubhouse because everyone is giving them space after the tragic news about Kayla's death.

I lift my hand and knock, shocked when she responds from the other side because she's been sleeping hard most of the day.

"Come in."

I turn the doorknob and stick my head inside to find her sitting at the head of the bed with her phone in her hands.

"I brought you something to eat."

Her nose scrunches as if the thought of food makes her stomach turn.

I don't know the reasoning behind the reaction. I've been through some shit in my life, but nothing that made me lose my appetite for this long.

Is she living in regret? Worrying that she did things wrong for it all to end this way? Is she sad that he's gone? Struggling with the relief his death brings? Is it a combination of all of those and some things I haven't even considered?

"You have to eat," I say as I step inside and place the plate with the turkey sandwich and small bag of chips on the dresser.

I don't cross the room to her. I don't know what capacity she needs me in right now, or if she even needs me going forward.

"I'll eat eventually," she assures me, but offers nothing further.

"You'll have to come out of this room eventually, too," I say, wondering if that will be the trigger for her to discuss her future plans.

"How many people are out there?"

"No one," I tell her.

"At the pool?"

"Not a soul."

"Want to sit with me by the pool?"

"I'd love to," I tell her.

She stands, sliding her feet into a pair of sandals before crossing the room.

She glances from me to the plate of food, as if she's considering its existence.

"I'll take this just in case," she says as she reaches for it.

"I grabbed this also," I say and pull a can of soda from the back pocket of my jeans.

"That has to be cold back there," she says with a grin.

"My butt cheek is frozen," I tell her with a grin.

We leave the room, me carrying the soda and her carrying the plate, and head out the back door to the pool.

I take a seat at one of the picnic tables, and much to my surprise, she sits right next to me rather than across from me.

My heart jumps in anticipation, but I know better than to read too much into it. We've grown comfortable around each other, and although the day has passed uneventfully, in the grand scheme of things, the news she got this morning and the events of last night are still very fresh.

She glances down at the plate in front of her, but makes no move to eat.

We watch the sun set behind the houses, and I pay extra attention to how the beautiful colors dance on the water in the pool. I tell myself that I need to fully live in this moment because I have no idea how long it will last or how many more of these moments I will get with her.