I headed back into the common area, and the moment I stepped through the doorway, my eyes went exactly where they always went now.
Clove.
She was by the pool table with Alice, Eden, Mayra, and Bell.The women’s laughter rose in waves.
Clove had a cue in her hands and a huge smile on her face.
God, she was beautiful.
Not in a polished, perfect way.In a real way.A living way.Bruises still faintly visible if you looked close enough.A cut near her brow still healing.But she was standing.
She looked up and saw me.Her expression changed instantly.
Relief.
Not dramatic.Not frantic.Just… relief.
My chest eased, but I didn’t go to her right away.
Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t want to make it obvious to everyone in the room how much it mattered.How much she mattered.How much I was tethered to her now.
So I did the next best thing.
I moved to where she could see me.
I went behind the bar, poured myself a drink, and leaned back against the counter with my eyes on her.
Always on her.
Clove took her shot, sank a ball, then looked over at me like she needed to confirm I was still there.
I lifted my glass slightly.
Her lips curved into the smallest smile.
And I stayed exactly where I was.Close enough to watch, close enough to protect, far enough not to claim.
Not yet.
Chapter Twenty
Clove
Half past twelve.
I knew that because I’d checked the clock on the nightstand three separate times in the last ten minutes, like the numbers might magically rearrange themselves if I stared hard enough.Midnight came and went.So did twelve fifteen.And now here I was, wide awake, staring at the ceiling like it could lull me to sleep.
I shifted on the mattress and sighed.
My body was exhausted.
My brain refused to shut the hell up.
I sighed and rolled onto my back, staring up at the darkened ceiling.The room was dim, lit only by the muted glow of the TV across the room.Ender was stretched out on the couch, one arm tucked behind his head, the other resting over his stomach.The volume was low, just enough to create background noise without actually being something I could focus on.
“I’m still awake,” I announced to the room.
Ender chuckled softly from the couch.“Yeah, I know.”