Theo suddenly appearing beside my bed.
The smoke.
The way the roof had caved in.
I pushed myself up on my elbows, blinking around the softly lit room.
I was at Theo’s house. This was his guest room.
I reached instinctively for my phone on the nightstand to check the time.
My hand met empty wood.
Right.
Because my phone was still at the house.
Probably melted.
Probably sitting in a pile of ash with everything else I owned.
I swallowed and glanced toward the window. Sunlight slanted in at a steep angle, warm and bright across the carpeted floor.
It was late morning. Possibly already noon.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, taking in the room properly now that I was fully awake. It was beautiful. Put together in a way that felt intentional and layered. Soft blues, creamy whites, textures that made the space feel cozy without trying too hard.
Alisha had decorated this room.
I was almost certain of it.
Theo had many strengths, but coordinating throw pillows with the art on the wall probably wasn’t one of them.
I padded over to the full-length mirror in the corner, and when I took in my reflection, I frowned.
I looked rumpled.
Yep, if Theo had fallen for the illusion I’d been trying to give off over the past two weeks that I woke up looking put together, he was definitely going to discover the truth now.
My hair was a mess around my shoulders, and the black oversized T-shirt he’d given me swallowed my frame entirely.
But while part of me felt embarrassed to be seen like this, there was also a small, secret warmth flickering in my chest at the knowledge that I was wearinghisclothes.
Yep. Clearly my attempt to squash my little crush on him wasn’t working very well if I was this giddy to be wearing his clothes.
I pulled on the corner of the sleeve, brought it to my nose, and inhaled.
Dang.Too bad they didn’t smell like him.
If only Jessie wasn’t so good at her job. Since, thanks to Jessie, they smelled like fresh laundry. I would definitely be snooping around Theo’s laundry room next week, though, to see what type of detergent and fabric softener Jessie used. Because man, I’d never worn laundry that smelled this good.
My gaze drifted back to the bed and the impossibly soft blanket pooled there. It had been like sleeping enveloped in a cloud. I hadn’t slept that well in months. Curious, I crossed the room and flipped the corner over to check the tag.
Yep, just as expected, it was the same brand as the fuzzy blanket Lucy had on her bed at home.
Or rather… the blanket and bed sheusedto have.
A heaviness pressed against my ribs.