Page 56 of Midnight Ink

His arms tighten around me, holding me firmly to his body, unaware of the spiral I’m stuck in just over his lips. We sit here together quietly, slowing rocking in this chair. I don’t want to move, and I can’t believe I felt his arms around me this morning and tried to leave them.

His hold is strong and firm. Warm. We sit here for a while watching the rainfall, and neither of us speak. We don’t really need to. It feels nice. I’m not interested in moving anyway. I couldn’t run if I tried.

Julian is right.

There are a million worse things than this.

In fact, I think this might be the best-case scenario.

TWELVE

IAN

Thunder cracks through the room making Julian flinch, and rain pounds against the windows. It’s coming down in sheets. “When I said everything will work out,” he says, voice tight. “I didn’t mean being trapped in this house for another week with an owner who clearly doesn’t want us here.”

“He does,” I say quickly, then grab for his hand before he paces a hole into the warped floorboards. I tug him with me onto the bed. It groans under his weight. “I talked to him.”

Julian looks at our joined fingers then at me. “Did he threaten your life if you didn’t extend your stay and give them money?”

“No.” His brain, I swear. “They might lose this place, actually. I think he’s scared to let his wife hope this will change things.”

Sympathy flashes behind his eyes and he exhales heavily. His gaze drops to the floor. “Is it my turn to freak out now?”

The soft light from the lamp illuminates his handsome features. Full lips, sharp cheekbones. So damn handsome. “You were right, this doesn’t have to be bad.” I squeeze his fingers. “We will figure it out.”

Another crack of lightening floods the room. For a split second we sit in silence. “What do you want to do?” he finally says. I should say anything. We have all the time now. We could play cards or watch a movie. We’re on vacation, getting rest for the first time maybe all year. Best of all I’m here with my best friend.

“I’m just happy to hang out here with you.” The words settle between us, and I can see him thinking.

“What else are you thinking?”

I almost brush it off, but I need to be honest. I need to stop hiding myself. “This may sound a bit crazy, but when Alexander was telling me about this place, I felt like . . . I don’t know, like this was fate.”

His brows shoot up his forehead. “Fate?” He blinks.

As crazy as it sounds, yeah. I do believe that. “Maddox would have loved it here.”

“He had a thing for run-down houses?” Julian laughs softly.

“You should have seen the shop when he bought it.” I shake my head, thinking about that day. Fuck, I wanted to strangle the shit out of him. “It was so run-down. The former owners had abandoned it before trying to sell it. Did you know he bought it without telling me?”

“What?!”

“Oh yeah. He just dove headfirst into shit. Act first, think later. That was him. He did it, though. With our friends’ help, once we’d forced him to accept it. He didn’t see limits.” Maddox knew how to hustle. He did so many under-the-table jobs just to get enough money for a down payment. He didn’t think about anything other than achieving the end goal. No matter what, he was going to own that shop. One way or another. “Supporting a place like this . . . I think maybe this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

His brows crease. “What about the ashes?”

“Wherever they are.” I try not to think too much about it and trust they will be found. “And to be honest, I don’t even know if I want to spread them.” I keep thinking that’s what I need to do for closure. Go on the vacation Maddox never got to experience. I don’t think that’s going to bring me the peace I think it will, though.

Maybe it’s selfish, but I want those ashes with me.

Julian’s fingers slip from mine to rest on my knee. The contact is simple, but heat spreads through my leg. “Whatever you decide,” he says softly. “I’m here.”

The rain pounds harder, relentless now, and the room feels small. Jules’s hand stays where it is, warm and solid, grounding me here.

Lightning flashes and the inn groans around us.

My fingers move before I can stop them, to lie on top of his hand on my knee.