Page 28 of Blue Norther
“I can’t go upstairs?”
“No, I mean you can definitely do that.” My free hand came up to rub the back of my neck. “It’s just…I turned the guest bedroom into a home office.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Okay. Well, I could manage something in the room we were going to use as a nursery. Do you still have that air mattress your parents gave us for Christmas that one year? The one that folds out onto its own frame?”
“No.”
Her eyes closed for a second before she opened them again, looking towards the couch. Ohhell no.
“Okay. I’ll just stay?—”
I closed the distance between us in two strides, my hand pressing against the small of her back as I directed her towards the stairs.
“You’re sleeping in my bed tonight.”
“I don’t think…”
Before she could continue arguing, I shook my head. “I’ll take the couch; it’s better this way. I’m by the door if someone is watching you and knows that you're here. If they try anything, the second story gives you better protection.”
Her face blanched.Fuck, I shouldn’t have said that.
“You think they could come here?”
“Well, if they know your real name, and they could find your parents’ place, it’s safe to say?—”
The phone in my pocket vibrated.
“Oh my God.” Vi gasped. “Is that my dad?”
I scooped the phone out, immediately smiling at the picture of Violet with her dad that popped up. Nodding, I passed it to her.
“Dad?” Her hand went first to her chest, then reached out for me. These moments of connection between us, they should feel cold and awkward. But one day spent sporadically together, and it just felt right again to hold her.
Jessie was right. My heart was already stitching back together.
I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but from the relief written all over Vi’s face, I could tell Pete was okay.
“Yes. Okay. No, I’m safe. I’m fine.” She sighed, her eyes finding mine. “Please don’t worry. I’m…I’m going to stay with Colt for now.”
Thank you, God.
I mouthedgood girlto her and tried not to chuckle at the smile that pulled up the side of her mouth.
“Yes. I promise, Dad. I will. Please don’t put your phone on silent until we know more about what’s going on. Okay? I love you, too. Bye.”
Her hand dropped away from her face, and her eyes closed. I stepped closer, and held my breath as she dropped her head against my shoulder. My hands hovered awkwardly above her back for only a moment before I rested them against her. It took a couple of breaths for her, but eventually, she melted into my embrace.
“Vi?” I questioned.
“I’m good. He’s okay.” Her face nuzzled into my shirt. “He was sleeping, and his phone was on silent. Whoever this is…whoever sent that message, they didn’t do anything to my dad.”
She pulled back, and my jaw clenched, wishing more than anything that she would just let me hold her again.
“I’m glad he’s okay. But what happened tonight at the cabin isn’t. I know you just said you were staying with me?—”
Vi shook her head. “I only said that so he wouldn’t worry. He wanted me to call you the first time I told him about what was happening in New York.” She huffed. “Like, you’d just ride up there on your white horse and keep me safe.”
“I would have.”
