Chapter 23

“Thank you,” were the only two words that slipped out of my mouth.

“I’ll make myself at home. Don’t worry about me. You’ll be safe tonight with me here. I promise,” he said, walking out of the bedroom, away from me, into the night, downstairs. So close to me, yet so far away. He retired to the sofa inside the living room, also alone.

* * * *

I wasn’t alone for long. Romances between adult men sometimes happened that way, and love scenes followed. There was creaking boards in the salt box by human footsteps on the stairwell and down the hallway. They stopped at my bedroom door. I heard three taps on the plane of wood: tap, tappity-tap, tap. And then I heard Harry’s familiar voice, “Sawyer, it’s me…Harry. Can I come in?”

“Yes,” I whispered from my bed. “Please do.”

The door opened and his bear-like shadow stepped inside. Such a big man. Such a bulky and handsome man, even in semi-darkness. Such a stud, for lack of a better label. “I hope I’m not intruding.”