Page 70 of Hearts on the Mend

“I jumped off, tied her up, then marched over and… not sure why I thought it was cute then, but by the end of our conversation, I had plans that night to go out to dinner. It was fast after that. Lived in an apartment a few towns over and transferred schools before Matt moved us out west.”

I push myself up to my hands to steal another peek at Nolan. He’s so beautiful here in bed, vulnerable and sleepy. I trace my fingers over his skin, over the tattoos there, a thousand questions pressing against the edge of my tongue. “There’s lots we don’t know about one another.”

I swear the way his eyes soften, it might as well be a caress.

“Don’t you want to find out?”

A shiver runs down my spine. I do, more than anything. I want to say so, but all I can do in that moment is nod. Nolan draws my head down and places a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Hey, I’m okay,” he whispers again.

I rest my cheek against his chest, hiding again. I’m not worried about his nightmares. I’m terrified at the things left unspoken between us and the way life keeps crashing against us, dragging us back together like a surging tide, only for me to know that this is temporary. In a few months, he’ll be leaving, I’ll be selling the house, and Ruby and I…

“But you’re not.”

I grip him tighter as exhaustion pulls at my eyes. It’s easier to swallow down the truth, but that’s the thing with Nolan Murphy; even if I’m broken, he’s always going to be right next to me.

And that’s terrifying.

“I’m hungry.”

I bolt upright, brushing back my hair to make out the silhouette of Ruby in the doorway.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I slowly untangle myself from Nolan, hold my finger to my mouth, and creep out. But not until I peek back at him, soundly asleep in his bed, his arm above his head, snoring softly. Ember is tucked by his shoulder, her head resting on her little paws.

“Let’s make breakfast,” I tell Ruby, then quietly close the door.

“Why were you⁠—”

My phone vibrates with a call just in time. “Oh, look! Uncle Benny is calling.”

She jumps up and sipes the phone away, answering for me.

I peek over her shoulder, smiling at my brother who’s bundled up, and out in the cold. Early morning light barely streaks across the sky.

“Heard you guys got hit hard by a storm. Wanted to check in on you two.”

“We had a campout in the living room and Nolan built a light out of a water jug.”

“I feel like I’m missing a bit of the story there, monkey.”

She scurries to the fridge for the whipped cream as soon as she spots me putting the kettle on the woodstove. Smart kid.

“We’re fine,” I say, reclaiming the phone. I press my finger against my lips to keep her quiet, but now Ember is swatting crayons off the table. “Lots of snow, but we’ll manage.”

“Miss you guys.”

I pause, the old French press clutched in my hand. “Are you good?” I ask. “Bit early to be out.”

“Needed to check some fences. Always something to keep me busy here.” I don’t like what he’s not saying, but before I can press for more, Ruby snatches the phone back, and Nolan’s door cracks open.

“Mommy had a sleepover too. Say hi to Nolan.”

“Ruby! Give me that,” I hiss, taking it back.

“Roommates, huh?” Benny asks with a big laugh.