21. Millie
CHAPTER 21
Millie
Can somebody please tell me why I’m in Caden Thompson’s bedroom?
The scent of sandalwood & leather fills the air. It’s masculine and woodsy – an exact match for how Caden smelt when he held my head against his chest earlier, letting me sob into his flannel. It’s a scent that’s becoming familiar, starting to feel like a piece of Braggan Valley – a worrying reminder that I’ve spent far too much time around him for my own good, mostly under less than favourable circumstances.
Doug pads around me, looking for the most comfortable spot to slump down on. I don’t know how old he is, but his movements are coated in a stiffness that acts as a reminder that his life will be painfully shorter than ours. He clambers across my knees, letting his weight sink into my stomach as he pushes me back against a mountain of pillows.
I have no business kicking back in Caden’s bed like this, pressed into the sheets he sleeps in every night .
“Get off me, you big slob.” I wrestle with Doug, trying to push him off, but his stubborn body doesn’t move an inch.
Caden reappears, holding a pile of fresh plush towels. His eyes fill with a heated glare, raking over me, as he takes in my position on the bed. A cloak of something akin to anger falls over him as his jaw rocks back and forth beneath his stubble.
“Sorry,” I blurt, holding my hands up as Doug finally shifts to let me move. “I didn’t plan on making myself so at home, but this dog of yours had different plans.”
“Bath’s ready,” he grunts, pulling some clothes from his drawers before passing them to me. “Towels and fresh clothes for when you’re done.”
“I can’t go back over to the staff house in your?—”
“—yeah, I know. I’m not into how it looks either, believe me. But it’s that or heading back in your towel which is even worse.”
I’m mortified as I weigh up the options.
“Bathroom’s on the left.” Caden gestures to the open door, a light flickering glow emits from the room. “Front door will lock behind you when you leave.”
“Right,” I answer, realizing I’m being dismissed.
“Right,” he repeats, nodding once before closing the door in my face.
That’ll be that, then.
The bath is filled to the brim, bubbles resting on the surface in soapy clouds. After weeks of tolerating the narrow shower stalls and temperamental water pressure back at the staff house, I’m drawn in by the thought of this sweet heaven.
I flick off the main light, leaving the candles set up on the corners of the tub to coat the room in subtle warmth. Easing myself into the warm water, the bubbles soothe my weather-beaten skin. I tilt my head back, letting my hair spread beneath the water, my tired eyes closing as I sink a little deeper.
A silent tear runs down my cheek as I feel the weight of the past few hours press down on my chest.
I wish I could’ve left all of this behind in Rowenbridge, instead it’s followed me here and, on nights like these, it feels worse than it ever has before.
God, I need my mom.
I don’t know how long I’ve been lying here, running my fingers through the sudsy water, letting thought after thought weave through my mind, but I should probably get out soon before I overstay my welcome.
A gentle wrap of knuckles moves across the bathroom door.
“Hey, Millie.” Caden’s voice is dry as he clears his throat.
“Mhmm?” I push up on my elbows, bubbles rolling off my skin.
There’s a pause, the space between us heavy with tension while I wait for him to respond.
“I’m… I’m sorry about yesterday.” The wall divides us, but I picture him right outside, leaning back against the door frame as he talks. “I don’t like how I spoke to you, and I didn’t mean what I said. It wasn’t right. I let a rough day get the better of me and I shouldn’t have. If you were to ask me again today if you should stay or go, I’d answer differently. I’d tell you the truth.” He pauses, drawing in a breath. “I’d tell you that I think you should stay. ”
Heavy footsteps recede, getting quieter and quieter until the creak of his bedroom door confirms that he’s left me here alone with his words.
I think you should stay.
The water drains from the bath, leaving behind an oily pink residue that I can’t seem to get rid of no matter how hard I scrub. I hold up the clothes Caden looked out for me, comparing the drawstring waistband of a pair of grey sweatpants against my hips.
If I can get these over my thighs, it’ll be a miracle.
I pull the faded concert T-shirt over my head, squinting my puffy eyes in the mirror to make out the artist’s name under an illustrated white horse. STAPLETON .
My wet hair falls out of my scrunchie in chaotic waves as I wipe at my red cheeks, removing the troughs of mascara running down them. It’s a good thing Caden didn’t stick around for formal goodbyes. I look awful, and for some reason, I find myself caring for what he thinks about that.
I look down at my soggy trainers, recoiling at the thought of having to squelch over to the staff house in them. I opt for bare feet instead, the better of two less than favourable options.
Tiptoeing my way through the hallway of the main house, I make every effort to be as quiet as possible, squinting through the peephole to ensure nobody is around before I make my dash across the lawn .
The coast seems to be clear.
I release the front doorknob with a gentle click and make my first efforts towards a step when a quiet voice pulls me out of my skin.
“Sleep well, Millie.”
I leap backwards against the door, closing it with a slam, sending shudders through the foundations.
So much for a quiet escape.
Maura stands in the soft light of the main house kitchen, steeping a tea bag in the mug in her hand.
“Oh…uh…” I’m flustered. I can’t find the right words as I hold my damp clothes against myself, trying to shield Caden’s clothes from view. “It’s not… This isn’t what it looks like.”
She smirks, shaking her head as she takes a sip of her tea.
“Really, it’s not.” I feel instant guilt, like I’ve been caught out doing something I shouldn’t be.
“I heard you had a rough start tonight.” There’s a warmth in her voice. “It seems like Caden was just trying to help you out. He sent me a flustered text about looking for bath grenades .”
“Well… yes, actually,” I laugh with a shrug. “He offered me a hot bath after the storm, and I couldn’t say no to that. I just don’t want you to see me sneaking out in Caden’s clothes and get the wrong idea.”
“Don’t worry, love. That’s not what I thought. Caden’s not like that, he’s never brought a girl back here.” She takes a half step in my direction. “I’ve always thought he was saving that for someone special.”
A swarm of butterflies passes through my gut at that admission. He’s never brought a girl here, and he offered to run me a bath like it was nothing at all. I don’t like the way my body reacts to those facts, at all.
“It’s nice to know that he does still have a soft side after all,” Maura quips on a yawn. “I best get to bed – early start again tomorrow. You let me know if you need anything, Millie. Be kind to yourself.”
She rubs my shoulder and pulls the front door open, letting me step out into the cool evening.
I stand there for a while, gazing up at the clear night sky, asking it for answers.