I nod. “Two weeks, tops. Then I’ll have my own place.”
He sighs, relieved that I’m not arguing. But I honestly have no idea how I’ll be able to afford an apartment in two weeks. I’ll have to find a job and a car. I had to borrow Luke’s car to visit Stephen today, but I can’t keep doing that.
I feel Luke’s hand slide through my hair and wrap around the nape of my neck. When our eyes meet, there’s a softness in his that wasn’t there a few seconds ago. “Stop overthinking it,” he says quietly. “You aren’t in this alone anymore, Sloan. Okay?”
I release a sigh. “Okay,” I whisper.
It’s the first time in my life I feel like my burdens aren’t all mine. I’ve never met anyone who brings more relief to my life than they do stress. Until Luke.
Love shouldn’t feel like added weight. It should make you feel as light as air.
Asa made everything in my life heavy.
Luke makes me feel like I’m floating.
I guess that’s the difference in being loved the right way and the wrong way. You either feel tethered to an anchor…or you feel like you’re flying.
***
“You need anything else?” I ask him.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been to Luke’s house, and I was shocked to see that it’s very normal. A home in a neighborhood about an hour or so from where I lived with Asa. It’s even closer to my brother’s facility.
Luke says he rents the house, he doesn’t own it. He never knows what his jobs are going to be, so he hasn’t been ready to commit to a mortgage yet.
“I’m fine,” he says. “Stop worrying. I’ll let you know if I need anything, okay?”
I nod. I glance around his bedroom, not really knowing what I should do with myself. He probably wants some sleep. It just feels weird with this not being my house.
“You want to crawl in bed with me and watch a movie?” he asks, lifting the blanket.
“That sounds like heaven.”
I crawl into bed with him and snuggle up to him just like I did at the hospital every day. He turns on the TV and begins flipping through the channels. After a minute or so, he says, “Thank you, Sloan.”
I glance up at him. “For what?”
His eyes scroll over my face, slowly. “For everything,” he whispers. “For taking care of me. For being as strong as you are, despite everything you’ve been through.”
I know the doctor said no strenuous activity, but I doubt the doctor knew Luke could say such appealing things. I press my lips to his, because it feels hella good being thanked. And complimented. Heck, just having someone be nice to me is so new, it makes me melt every time he opens his mouth.
His hand comes around to the back of my head and he kisses me harder.
This isn’t good. Luke is right. Four weeks of this and we’re expected to refrain? Jesus Christ. We’re screwed.
But then we’re spared by a loud knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” he says, pulling back the covers. I yank the covers back over him.
“No you won’t. You’ll rest. I’ll get the door.”
He grabs my hand as I’m sliding off the bed. “Check the peephole first,” he says. “If it’s Ryan, he’ll scratch his neck to let you know it’s safe to open the door. If he doesn’t scratch his neck, do not open that door.”
I pause, wondering why their silent codes are even necessary. I don’t ask, though. This undercover shit is going to take some getting used to. I hope Luke was serious when he said he was switching professions.
When I reach the front door and check the peephole, sure enough, Ryan is scratching at his neck. But there’s someone else with him. A girl.
“There’s a girl with him!” I whisper loudly as I run back into Luke’s bedroom.
“Long blond hair?” he asks.
I nod.
“That’s fine, it’s just Tillie.”
Tillie. Great.
I go back to the living room and enter the passcode to the alarm, then open the door.
“Hey,” Ryan says, making his way inside, followed by Tillie. She smiles at me, but I’m already intimidated by her. She’s a few inches taller than me, decked out in sleek black pants and a tucked in white-collared shirt. She has the top two buttons open, revealing a shiny silver braided necklace. I’ve never seen simple look this good.
“Tillie, this is Sloan. Sloan, Tillie.”
She reaches out to shake my hand and it almost hurts, she has such a good grip. I can’t help but think about the fact that she’s made out with Luke. Even if it was just for work, it still makes my stomach feel weird knowing this fact about them. I don’t let it bother me too much though. I get it.