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In quiet acceptance ofthe sensitive skin near my hairline "What did home feel like?" he whispers intothe end of my tank and when he discovers bare skin, he splays his palm across my stomach His heat radiates into my bloodstream

"What else?"

"Safe, protected"

He pullsa shelter--one like I haven’t experienced in ile Like he’s realized the secret I’ve hidden: that I’m breakable, if not already broken

I’ve noticed his muscles before--his biceps, his abs--but there’s a difference between seeing the held in the for six months, for a year, possibly forever

"When I had a hoainst the hollow of ether and his leg rubs against mine Every part of him connects with a part of me

"I’m here, Haley," he says "You’re not alone"

"Do you knohat my favorite part of the day is?"

West settles his head into the pillow His ainst the curve of my neck; then he lazily kisses the sweet spot near my hairline "When?"

"Those brief few seconds when I wake up and I forget and I think I’m at home"

"Until now, that’s also been ht, I’o"

I listen to his breath, enjoy the rise and fall of his chest and focus on the gentleness of his fingers against er exist in an attic and the darkness no longer tauntsarms, I sleep

Chapter 32

West

The sun doesn’t rise for another hour and Haley’s alaret ready and I wait like a man on trial with the jury out for deliberation

Outside, a new layer of icicles hangs froht was possibly one of the best nights of my life and as I slump onto the corner of the air hat the roots I swear that’s one of the co about Dad’s business, but he had a crap ton of documents on his desk with that naot called into his office for cutting class My father--he did this to Haley and her fa for her hard