Credence

L.A. and my life there once upon a time is a million miles away. This is my home.

A while later, the fire crackles as Noah sleeps soundly, and Kaleb holds me to his body. I drift in and out, hearing the wind blow, but I’m warm and safe inside.

Something tugs at my hair ever so gently, and I vaguely register soft silk dragging over my forehead. I blink my eyes open to see Kaleb fist my red ribbon in his hand and reach under his head, stuffing it back inside his pillow-case.

I smile, holding back my laugh, and go back to sleep.

Tiernan

I wake up, the morning light falling across my face, and jerk, squeezing my eyes shut again as I turn over.

But as I roll onto my left arm, pain shoots down to my fingertips and everything comes flooding back all at once. I groan, shooting up in bed.

The sheet falls to my waist as I look around the room—Kaleb’s room—and I see that I’m alone.

I look down at my bandaged arm, seeing blood seeping through. God, what was I thinking last night?

An ache rocks through my head, and I flinch, rubbing the back of my neck. After the fire and the injury, I decided to lose my mind and…

Images flash of the three of us, and I shake my head clear. I can’t face it. Not yet. Not that I didn’t absolutely love everything that happened in here last night, but I shouldn’t have done it.

Jesus. I stumble out of the bed, my legs weak as I grab for the first piece of clothing I find on the floor. I need some ibuprofen and a shower. My entire body is on fire.

The time on the clock on the bedside table flashes two-sixteen a.m., but I know it’s later than that. They must’ve gotten the electricity working again. Thank goodness.

I slip on the black T-shirt, Kaleb’s scent wafting over me, and goosebumps spread down my legs, remembering how good he felt.

And for a moment I’m almost lost again. My heart aches a little, still feeling his eyes. His mouth. His arms.

Something starts beeping from outside, and I blink, hearing the digger. It makes that sound when it’s put in reverse. They must be dealing with the damage.

I leave the room, heading downstairs, and I glance through Noah’s open door as I head into the bathroom. His room is empty. It’s unlike him to be up and doing chores at this

time of day, willingly at least. He must be pretty scared of his father.

How did the fire start? Now that I have a clear head, it doesn’t make sense. They’ve lived up here their whole lives. Jake taught them how to be diligent in turning off machinery and not leaving fires to burn unattended.

I step softly into the bathroom and reach behind the shower curtain, turning on the water. It must be something we didn’t realize was a problem. Like Noah said, something electrical, maybe.

Leaning against the sink, I lift my arm a little, whimpering as it aches. The muscles are tight, and I look down at it, starting to unwrap the gauze.

But I hear steps enter the bathroom, and I look up, seeing Kaleb. Showered, shaved, dressed in clean jeans and a navy-blue T-shirt, and my cheeks warm, thinking about how I loved everything about him last night.

And here I am, dirty, hair hanging in my face, and a night’s worth of blood and sweat on me. Not just my sweat, either.

He carries the red tin and comes over, setting it down and pushing my hair back, inspecting my face. My skin warms at his touch, and as he turns my head, caressing my cheek, it takes me a minute to figure out what he’s doing.

The slaps. He’s making sure I’m not bruised.

I stare at his mouth, wishing I could’ve heard his voice last night. I almost thought I did a couple times.

I reach up, touching his cheek, too, starting to believe I imagined everything I felt coming off him last night, but… he turns away, pulling back a little.

My hand stays there, suspended as he drops his own and starts rummaging through the tin.

Tears springs to my eyes. The old Kaleb is back.

“Kaleb…” I murmur.