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.
As if she can read my mind, she says, “I’m sorry about making out with Luke in your house. It was necessary, but will never happen again. Believe me. It’s almost as bad as when I had to kiss this one for show,” she says, pointing at Ryan.
Ryan rolls his eyes. “Tillie, Tillie, Tillie,” he says. “That was over a year ago and you still can’t stop thinking about my tongue in your mouth.”
She nods. “Nightmares are hard to overcome.”
I laugh. I instantly like her. I close the door behind me and point to the bedroom. “He’s in his room,” I tell them both.
Ryan glances toward the room and then back at me. There’s something in his expression that concerns me, but he’s trying to hide it with a forced smile. “You mind if we talk to Luke alone?” he asks.
I cross my arm over my stomach and grab my other arm. I look back and forth between him and Tillie. “Does it have to do with Asa?”
I can see Tillie look briefly in Ryan’s direction, her eyes revealing that Asa is exactly what they intend to talk to Luke about.
“I want to know,” I say to them. “If you don’t let me hear what you’re going to tell him, I’ll eavesdrop at the door.”
Ryan doesn’t laugh. His lips tighten together and he just nods. “Fair enough,” he says.
They both turn to walk into Luke’s bedroom and I’m forced to inhale a calming breath.
This doesn’t look good.
***
Luke
I can see Tillie and Ryan making their way into my bedroom, but my eyes are on Sloan. She’s standing in the living room with her eyes closed, looking like she’s about to be sick.