Sweet Little Nothing

"I don't know...maybe a change of scenery would be good," Stella says. "I know I'm not a therapist, but I don't know how conducive to your healing it will be to stay here."

Sterling nods in agreement.

"I don't know. I just... don't know."

"How about this?” he says, easing me onto the cushion next to him. "The unit next door just went on the market. Why don't you rent it?”

"It's probably really expensive."

He grins like he knows something I don't. "I know the landlord personally. Something tells me he'd give you a deal. And if it's too much for you and Stella, y'all could get a third roommate."

Stella nods eagerly. "I think we should consider it, babe. I really do."

"I'll think about it. That's the best I can offer."

Chapter Forty-Five

Sterling

I watch in rapt fascination as Emmalyn wakes.

It's the fifth time in as many days that she's woken up to me in her bed, thanks to her recurring nightmares. As much as I love the fact that my presence calms her, I'd do about anything for the nightmares to just stop.

"Sterling?" Her voice is thick with sleep.

"Good morning, little mouse."

She looks up at me and blinks, once...twice...and then sighs. "Again?" she asks, frustration chasing away any and all vestiges of sleep.

"Again."

She closes her eyes and rolls to face me, burying her head in my chest. "How many times is that now? God, I just want to be normal."

"Hey, it's okay."

"It's not okay! I feel so broken."

"You're not broken, Emmy. That much I know."

"I think...I think y'all were right. Staying here isn't good for me. I think I need to get away."

"I think that's a good idea. Do you mean for a while or for good?"

She doesn't answer me right away, so I know she's taking my question to heart. "Both, I think."

"My family has a cabin in Tennessee. We could go there."

"Really?"

"Really. And, if you're serious about getting away for good, maybe while we're gone Gabe and Zach could help Stella move y'all into the unit next to mine?"

"I'd have to talk to Stella."

"Talk to me about what?" asks Stella, popping her head into the room.

"Stalk much?" I ask, but I'm laughing.

"Hey, I was making coffee and heard my name."

"Emmalyn and I were talking about y'all moving in next to me. I suggested Gabe and Zach could help you move everything while I took our girl to my family's cabin."

"And I"—Emmalyn cuts her eyes at me—"was telling him I couldn't make those kinds of decisions without talking to you."

"Oh, I am totally down. Let's blow this popsicle stand."

"Are you sure?"

"One-hundred-and-ten percent. And I know the guys will be down to help me move our stuff. You just take care of you. Go to the cabin, relax and recharge. Read a book on a bearskin rug in front of the fire."

"I thought you were supposed to make love in front of the fire?" Emmalyn asks.

"Now, there's a thought," I murmur in her ear.

"Oh my God! I cannot believe I just said that."

"I'm just saying, baby. You want to give that a go, I'm down." My tone is light and teasing, but I'm half serious, too.

It's only been five days since Emmy came home, and I'm respecting her need for time. But it is driving me fucking insane to sleep next to her every night without touching her.

I've got blue balls like a motherfucker, but I know she'll return to me. I also know that when she does, it'll be mind-blowing and oh-so-worth the wait.

"Okay, let's do it."

"There's no rug here. Or fireplace."

She rolls her eyes and laughs. "I meant let's go to the cabin. And...let's move."

It takes everything in me not to fist pump. "Y'all want to get started on packing and I'll head home and pack a bag for the cabin?"

Stella answers for them both. "Yup. It's basically just clothes and a few odds and ends."

"Oh!" Emmalyn cries. "We don't have furniture."

"You're in luck," I say, lying through my teeth. "It comes furnished."

Emmy and Stella exchange grateful glances and then Stella says, "Sounds like it was meant to be."

"Something like that," I mutter, wondering how fast I can get furniture delivered. And if I can get the blond giant and his boyfriend to set it all up.

Something tells me I can; I'm pretty sure those two would do anything for my girl. And if they were anyone else, that notion would piss me the hell off, but with them, I don't mind.

"Well, at least I'll never have to see Melanie again." She frowns. "Unless I run into her on campus."

"Baby... Did no one tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Jelly Melly isn't here anymore," Stella says, sounding ridiculously pleased.

"What?"

"Turns out when Rob was here, he followed you for a few days and somehow made friends with her. She helped him with stuff. And yeah, she was relieved of her RA duties. Her parents were so furious they pulled her from school."