Page 42 of Shatter

Chapter twenty-one

Harrison

The next morning, we slide into a comfortable routine. It's a little alarming how quickly I've adapted to her being in my home. I haven't had a roommate since college. But when I left my room to walk to the gym, I'd looked for her.

She slept in the guest bedroom after we washed the sheets, and while I still couldn't sleep, knowing she was just across the hall from me, I respected her decision.

I worked out in the gym after a comfortable breakfast together, but when I come back out into the living room after my shower, I find her on the couch, frowning at a notebook.

"What's up?" I ask, wanting to help her in any way that I can.

She slams the notebook shut quickly, like I startled her. "Nothing!" she says quickly, but it's too bright to be real. Whatever she's doing, she just got caught and is embarrassed - if the pink in her cheeks is any indication.

But I'm not going to let her go that easily.

I sit on the couch next to her and drag her feet into my lap, giving in to my need to touch her at all times.

I hold my hand out, palm upward, and wait. Eventually, she slaps the notebook into my hand hard enough it stings.

Brat.

I open it to the first page to find a list.

Change a tire

Cook

Taxes???

Ride a bike

Play a sport

Complete a crossword puzzle

"What is this?" I ask, trying to figure out what ties all of these things together.

When she doesn't answer, I look up and clock her pink cheeks. Her shoulders fold in on herself, and she looks miserable.

"Don't make fun of me," she warns, her face stormy and adorable.

"Never."

She sighs like this confession is weighing on her. "They're things I want to learn to do. I've been pretty sheltered my entire life, so I feel like I missed out on a lot of basic growing up stuff."

I bite back my smile.

She snatches the notebook from me roughly and growls. "You're laughing at me!"

"I'm not!" I chuckle, holding my hands up placatingly.

She tosses the notebook to the floor before crawling into my lap and surprising the hell out of me by tickling me. I squirm away as she digs her tiny fingers into my ribs. I can't help but laugh. It's not something I do often, but I find myself doing it a lot with her.

Finally, I decide to use my size against her, wrapping her up in my arms, effectively pinning her arms to her sides.

"Fuck you're cute," I say before I can think better of it. She scowls at me and looks as scary as a kitten. "I think it's a great list. Let's do it."

The fight falls out of her with my easy answer.