27. Tessa

27

Tessa

C in's movie night is a dumb idea, but I can tell he's trying really hard to cheer me up. The TV is freely accessible to me and there's literally nothing stopping me from watching whatever the fuck I want after the kids have gone to bed, but I always choose to stay with Harry and read my Kindle once he's fallen asleep.

Thank fuck I had it shoved in my bag the day we ran. Otherwise, I'd have been without all my favorite books. Reading is my escape and I can't imagine not being able to access the books I love.

I'm part-way through a romantasy series at the moment. Dragons, fae, and morally gray men who love nothing more than tormenting the FMC. This is the kind of shit I live for. Slightly ironic given I'm stuck in a remote location with two men who could easily grace the cover of a romance novel.

But I'm trying not to think of them in those terms.

Madden and Cin are my bodyguards, nothing more. I can't afford to let my guard down with them or anyone. Besides, Madden barely speaks to me and Cin would flirt with a rock given the chance. That's just the way he is.

I know he's only being nice to me when he says sweet things, like how good I look in my shorts, or how pretty my hair is today. And yes, he's said both of those things this morning.

And I blushed like a fucking schoolgirl, which is so not me.

I was always the confident one in college, whereas Stella acted like socializing was a violation of her Human Rights. I remember the party I dragged her to shortly before her true identity blew up in the media. God. She barely lasted two hours before she disappeared.

My friend hasn't changed at all since we graduated, preferring her quiet life with her men and kids.

Not that I blame her. My partying days are long gone. The last time I had a night out was when Enzo took me out for my birthday before Chloe came along. Given what happened, and how sick I was the next day, another night out has not been on my agenda since.

Maybe I do need to relax, as Cin reminded me earlier. Maybe chilling with a good movie will help me sleep better.

My hair is still damp from my shower, so I comb it through and leave it loose so it can dry. I'm wearing some pink sweatpants borrowed from the closet and a loose tee. The air is cooler this evening, so I tug on my worn hoodie, the one I had stuffed in my bag when we ran away.

It still smells of fried food from the diner, despite being laundered. I miss Mal's acidic sarcasm. No doubt Derek has sacked me by now. He probably tried calling a few times, and when I didn't pick up, gave up. Not that I blame him. The diner was already one server down after Colleen quit.

Both kids are fast asleep. I'd rather stay here, reading some more of my book, but I know if I don't appear Cin will come looking for me.

I pick up the baby monitor and quietly ease out of my room, closing the door behind me. All I can hear is the sound of the wind blowing through the trees outside, but when I reach the living room, Cin is stretched out like a cat on the sofa with the remote on his lap and a large bowl of popcorn on the coffee table.

"I have chocolate, too, but we can start with popcorn." Cin's red-brown hair sticks up like he's been raking it with his fingers, and of course, he's shirtless. It's hard not to ogle his smooth muscles and golden skin, but I force myself to look at the TV, not him.

"What are we watching?"

"Told you. Your choice. Pick anything you like, although I draw the line at The Princess Bride."

A snort escapes at the idea of watching that with him, and for a moment I'm tempted to choose it just to piss him off. If it's even on Netflix.

"No Madden?" I ask while checking the options.

"He'll be along in a minute. He's dealing with some emails."

I choose Gerald's Game. The book was good and I haven't seen this adaptation. Not sure if Cin will enjoy it, but whatever. He said I could pick anything I wanted so he can deal.

Madden walks in a few minutes later, raises one eyebrow at my movie choice, and then drops into the armchair across from Cin. I pick a spot at the far end of the sofa, well away from the sexiest man alive, but close enough that the popcorn is within reach.

Madden opens an app on his phone, and the lights dim. Then the movie starts.