Page 228 of Sweet Nightmare

And this morning, I slept through all of it.

I look at the time again and grunt before throwing the blankets aside.

“This is unacceptable. First my mind. Now my damn routine. Damnit, rain cloud.”

As I complain to absolutely no one, I can’t help noticing something else.

My body feels strangely rested.

That’s odd.

After months of barely sleeping, I got more rest last night than I’m used to.

How is this all happening?

That man has done something to me that I still don’t fully understand.

My bedroom door suddenly flies open.

“ARTY!”

I nearly fall out of bed.

My lovely redheaded disaster, Stevie, storms into the room with an amount of energy that has always offended me. Behind her stands Mika, holding the same coffee cup she’s carried around since we arrived here and a knowing smile.

And beside her is her accomplice, Mrs. Han. Except Mrs. Han doesn’t look happy to see Stevie.

That’s strange.

I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t immediately charmed by Stevie’s sweet and cheerful personality.

Then again, Mrs. Han is basically Stevie in another font.

Perhaps two sources of sunshine are meant to clash.

It’s kind of funny when I think about it.

“Arty,” Stevie says, grinning. “Are you so happy to see me?”

“Not really.”

She looks at Mika and Mrs. Han with a sheepish smile.

“She’s kidding. That’s just her love language.”

Mika shakes her head while Mrs. Han doesn’t react at all.

Stevie notices and her smile falters.

She looks away, slightly embarrassed, then back at me.

“You slept until almost ten.”

“I’m aware.”

“That’s huge, Artemis.”

“It’s not.”