GoodReadClad in a moonlit robe, his long legs crossed at the ankles. He appeared to have been seated there for some time.
Dorothy wasn't feeling guilty; she simply didn't want Everett to know the real reason behind her clandestine meeting with Byte 7.
"Did | wake you? Was | too loud?" she asked, slipping off her shoes and stepping into the living room.
Everett didn't interrogate her. Instead, he stretched out his hand, beckoning her closer, and pulled Dorothy into an embrace. He then gave a soft murmur, "Chilly outside, isn't it? You're not dressed warm enough.” "It's fine, nothing to worry about.” He rubbed her hands to warm them but didn't press for details.
It was Dorothy who couldn't hold back, "Aren't you going to ask where I've been?" "If you want to tell me, you'd tell me." He didn’t want to coerce Dorothy into sharing.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You don't think | was out seeing Kenneth, do you?" Dorothy wanted to clear the air, fearing Everett's jealousy might be aimed at Kenneth again. "It was Byte 7. | asked him to help recover some data from my flash drive. He ran into a problem and came to ask me about it." After explaining, she showed him the text messages on her phone as proof.
He took the phone, glanced at it, and set it aside.
"| trust you." "But you're upset,” Dorothy could feel it.
Everett gazed into her eyes with his grim ones, "Because it feels like even though you're close, you're always just out of reach.” She kept her secrets, refusing to let him in, not even granting him the courtesy of knowing.
It felt like he was a criminal who perpetually awaited a verdict. He never knew when and where he might be cast aside.
"You're overthinking it," Dorothy patted his hand, "What's with this fear of loss after you've stared death in the face?" This was Everett, for heaven's sake! Even he was prone to insecurities.
"Because you're always prepared to leave, keeping secrets, and you've even mapped out your exit routes, haven't you?" Everett wished he could be completely oblivious.
He wished he could be blissfully unaware and guessing nothing out as long as she stayed by his side.
Dorothy started to look away and dodge the subject again, "Maybe after we return to Swevia Country, you should let Dr. Quincy find you a shrink to check if there's some underlying psychological issue with you. I'm right here. Why worry so much?" "That might be good. Get me a shrink and see if | can be cured.” She sighed in resignation and reached up to wrap her arms around Everett's neck, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Everett wanted more, so he decisively moved to pin her beneath him, taking the lead.
"This is the living room. What if Abigail and Langston wakes up?" "The Bay Residence is soundproof." "But..." "Dorothy, I'm not looking to that. What are you thinking?" With that, Dorothy's cheeks flamed with embarrassment.
Lately, she'd found her thoughts drifting to such matters far too often.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Then get off me and stand up!" "l won't." Everett insisted on holding her.
Dorothy didn't dare struggle, wary of his injuries, so she could only let him hold her.
The evening breeze continued to stir outside, the rustling of leaves whispering through the room.
She looked up at him, their gazes locked.
They remained that way.
Time slipped by until he finally broke the silence with a heavy question.
"The secret you're keeping... it's about your mother, isn't it?"
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