Chapter 18 #4
Something warm and bright settled around Denny like a blanket.
The attention she’d been so obstinately attempting to maintain so far cracked.
Her novel had been calling her from the bedroom for hours and trying so hard not to listen was actually more damaging than giving in to it.
The tension between Jade and Vera was skyrocketing and she couldn’t wait to see who would make the first move.
Sadly, she had to play grownup, instead.
Eris’ arms invaded her visual field, folding on top of Denny’s stacks of sheets.
“You’ve been at this for an hour and haven’t gone anywhere.”
Denny fumbled for a justification. Eris pulled the forms away, reaching out to slip Denny’s glasses off her nose.
“Do you think it’s wise to torture yourself like this?”
“The deadline is in two weeks.”
Eris plucked the pen out of Denny’s hand and set that aside, too. “You either let me do this or wait until you have the mental capacity to do it yourself.”
“I shouldn’t—”
“Or—hear me out: tomorrow, when you’re rested, I read the questions out loud for you, you give me the answers, and I write them down. How does that sound?”
“Like you’re enabling me.”
“Imagine saying that to someone pushing a wheelchair.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Your brain has a limp. Pretending it doesn’t won’t make it walk any better.” Eris crossed her arms as soon as Denny opened her mouth. “Go ahead. I can do this all night.”
Denny wanted to snipe back, but she was a wuss and way too weak to resist that blandishing look hidden in Eris’ eyes.
“It’s not fair that you have such a sway on me.”
Eris pulled herself up with a groan. “We need to introduce a penalty for that pout.”
She walked around the table, wrenched the chair back, and practically shook Denny off it.
“Okay, okay, fine! Let’s just go to bed.”
Denny realised Eris wasn’t following her out of the kitchen. She turned around to check on her, finding her still by the table, looking conflicted.
“It’s the wrong night to pull out this one, isn’t it?” Eris lifted her hand: she was holding the card with the balled-up hedgehog.
Denny balked. She had been looking forward to bed cuddles, especially after the window thing. Now Eris needed space and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to take it in stride like she’d promised herself she would.
She played tough, because she didn’t want Eris to feel guilty for asking. “There’s no such thing as the wrong night if you need a break.”
“I just need some alone time without… distraction.” Eris’ attention meaningfully inched up Denny’s figure, leaving a scorching wake that didn’t make Denny’s composure any easier to maintain. “It can wait, if you don’t want to be alone after what happened with Blake.”
Blake’s stunt was nowhere near Denny’s thoughts. It had made her feel nothing, left her with nothing. What had happened with Eris, on the other hand… Her heart quivered at the mere memory of it.
“It didn’t affect me, if it didn’t affect you.”
“Not one bit. Except now I want to bite that cunt’s head off more than ever.”
“Cool off! We can’t afford the slightest slip.” Denny placed her hands on Eris’ chest and kissed her, taking the card from her hand to put it on the table. “Let’s leave this here. You can take it back when you’re ready.”
“You sure?”
“I’m a big girl. I can survive without you for one night. Probably.”
Eris pressed a kiss to her lips, slow and languid. Grateful. “If you feel lonely, the door is open.”
Denny nodded, but swore she wouldn’t give in.
Eris always put her first. She could return the favour.
* * *
The silence was too loud.
There was nothing curbing the racing flux of Denny’s thoughts. No warm body weighing upon her, no calming breath on her neck, no spicy lemony scent. She was alone with her inner chaos.
When Eris had called her a distraction, Denny had seen it as a quip, but now, after tossing and turning for hours, she understood the depth of it. She and Eris distracted each other in completely opposite ways: Denny mollified Eris’ stony rationality; Eris silenced Denny’s noise.
Fed up with the insomnia, she rolled away from the window, fleeing the rising morning light. Eris must have slept soundly through the night, because Denny hadn’t heard her move, not even to go to the loo.
She sighed into the pillow, then stilled. She thought she heard a shuffling sound, but, before she mustered the strength to crack an eye open, the mattress dipped and a familiar heat crept under the covers, snuggling close.
Albeit more asleep than awake, Denny eagerly welcomed Eris into her arms. “Everything okay?” she hummed.
Eris nestled her head under her chin, nuzzling against her chest.
“Missed you.”
A flare of warmth flooded Denny from the inside.
‘I love you’ was the thing to say now, but it didn’t feel enough. No combination of words felt enough.
So she brushed a kiss to Eris’ temple, instead, and pulled her tighter to herself.
She’d know what it meant.
Eris always knew.
* * *
+44 771 441 2674
Can’t believe you’re forcing me to text to the shop’s number
You blocked me, didn’t you?
Very childish of you, but I should’ve known better
I’m waiting for an answer
+44 771 441 2674
A nice latte and slice of cake, just you and me
I just want to talk
Denny, please
+44 771 441 2674
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO BLOODY DIFFICULT