Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Rune was closest to the cabinets with one arm over his head and one hanging off the side of the bed.
I made my way in that direction, careful not to run into anything. Reaching out, I grabbed Rune’s hand.
He jerked awake with a gasp, eyes unseeing for a second.
“Baby?” he asked, voice sleep-rough.
I tightened my hand on his, then pulled.
Rune didn’t hesitate.
He threw off the blankets, stood, and followed me as I pulled him out of the room, down the hall, then into his room.
“Are you okay?”
“I can’t sleep.”
“You hurting too much?”
“Can you just… stay with me?”
“Of course,” he agreed, making his way toward the bed. “Come on. You slept like the dead with me last time.”
He climbed on the bed and patted his chest in invitation.
“I’m only using you like a lizard with a hot rock,” I warned him as I scooted closer and rested my head on his chest. “You guys keep this place so cold.”
“In everyone’s defense, there is usually a lot of alcohol involved around here. Makes everyone hot. I’ll half-close the vent tomorrow if it’s too much.”
“It’s not so bad right now.”
He was like a fireplace, actually. Warm, comforting, begging you to stay close.
His arm looped around my hips and the other gently slid up and down my spine, sifted through my hair, gently rubbed my scalp.
Within five minutes, my eyes were too heavy to keep open.
“Tired now?” Rune asked, voice whisper-soft.
“Mmhmm.”
His fingers circled a little more slowly on my scalp as I listened to the steady thump of his heart below my ear, and he leaned down to press a little kiss to the top of my head.
I drifted off to sleep, soothed by his nearness, knowing that nothing would happen to me when I was with him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Rune
“Hello?” I answered Carmen’s phone when it rang for the second time in the morning but didn’t manage to stir the exhausted woman.
“Rune?” Sofia asked, her voice sounding cautiously optimistic.
“Yep,” I said, massaging Carmen’s scalp when she stirred a little.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re picking up the phone. I’ve been so worried about Carmen.”
With good reason.
But I couldn’t let her know that. The last thing she needed was to know someone was actively trying to hurt the sister she’d just left.
“I’ve got her,” I told her instead. It was true. Without worrying her.
“Good. I love you for her. Is she there?”
“Yeah, she’s right here, but she’s sleeping. Everything okay?”
“Yes, totally. I just know she’s worried about me on this road trip, so I want to call on top of texting and sending videos.”
“Where are you?”
“Altoona.”
“Pennsylvania still?”
“I know, right? This state goes on forever. But I should be at my hotel in Columbus tonight.”
“How’s it going? Having fun? Hammy behaving?”
“She loves the car so much. I practically have to drag her out to stretch her legs when we stop.”
“I’m glad you got her with you for this long a road trip. We know she’s a big softie, but she looks intimidating.”
“Carmen said almost the exact same thing.”
“Great minds.”
“In case she didn’t tell you, I made sure all my hotels are in safe areas. And I don’t stop at any rest stops that seem shady or too empty.”
“Good. Glad to hear that. I heard you liked California when you went for your table reading.”
“Oh, my God. I love it so much. Have you ever been somewhere and it just felt, I don’t know, right? Like that was exactly where you were meant to be.”
My free arm tightened around Carmen.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m familiar.”
“I think I was always meant to be a West Coast kind of girl.”
“I can see that.”
“I feel a lot less guilty leaving Carmen knowing she has you. I thought you two had a falling out.”
“Nah. Nothing like that.”
“Look, I know my sister can be a little… guarded sometimes. But I just really hope you’re willing to bring your sledgehammer. Because what is behind those walls is worth all the work.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” I agreed as Carmen mumbled something and snuggled closer.
“Well, I’ll let you go,” Sofia said. “Tell my sister I will send texts and pictures each time we stop. And I’ll call from the hotel later.”
“I will. You drive safe, okay?”
“Always,” she said, then hung up.
When I glanced down, Carmen was slow-blinking up at me.
“Were you talking to me?”
“No,” I said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “I was talking to Sof.”
“My sister? Is she okay?”
“Easy,” I said, pushing her down again when she tried to pop up. “She’s fine. She just wanted to check in before she hit the road. She promised to send texts and videos all day. She said she’ll call when she’s in Columbus tonight. Sorry if I overstepped. But she called twice, and I was worried.”
“No, don’t be sorry. I always want the phone picked up if my sister calls. She sounded okay?”