“No, it’s okay. It’ll only be a few hours anyway. I’m going to get up extra early, run home, shower, change, and come right back, so I’ll be here before you leave for work.”
“I’m working from home tomorrow.” I screwed on the cap to the water, squeezing the bottle between my hands. “That gives you an extra hour since my first meeting isn’t until eight.”
Her head tilted to the side as she analyzed me. “I didn’t know that was ever an option.” She laughed. “I just mean, I had no idea you worked from home.”
That smile, that sound.
They hit my chest.
So fucking hard.
“I do on occasion, but I try not to make a habit of it. As you can imagine, it’s hard to get a lot done here.”
“I’ll keep Everly busy, so you don’t have to worry about her bothering you.” She took a step back and another, her hands falling at her sides until she grabbed the blanket from the back of the chair. “I’ll see you in the morning, Ford.”
She went over to the couch and found a spot between two oversize pillows. Her head nuzzled into one, her feet resting across the other, and the blanket covered her to where I could only see her hair.
Go to fucking bed, Ford.
I listened to the voice inside me and went over to where the switches were located, turning off the lights. The only ones I kept on were the pendants in the kitchen. I dimmed those, so if she got up, the glow would be enough that she wouldn’t run into anything.
When I reached the hallway to my bedroom, I didn’t say good night to her. I didn’t even pause. I just instantly closed the door behind me, my back resting against the wood the moment it was shut.
I filled my lungs and released a long, deep exhale.
When I tried to move, to walk down the hallway toward my bed, my feet wouldn’t lift. My hands wouldn’t release the door.
So, I slid down the flatness until my ass hit the hardwood beneath me.
And that was where I stayed.