A Quiet Retreat by Modglin Kiersten

Author:Modglin, Kiersten
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kiersten Modglin
Published: 2022-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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PRESENT DAY

When I open my eyes, I’m back in my bed. The room is darker than before, illuminated only by the lamp in the corner of the room. I shoot up, grabbing for the covers.

What happened?

How did I get down here?

I stare around the room until my eyes land on what must be the answer to my questions. Tennessee is kicked back in the armchair near the fireplace across from my bed, his head drooping to the side, mouth open.

I stand up, cross the room, and nudge him.

When his eyes open, he looks as confused as I feel for half a second, and then his eyes go wide. “Oh, thank God! You’re okay? How are you feeling?”

“How am I feeling? What do you mean?”

“I mean…you, um, you passed out. One minute you were standing there talking to me and the next…” He feigns dropping to the floor dramatically. “You were out cold.”

Something deep in my stomach sinks. “Oh, yeah, I…I do that.”

“You do that? What the hell does that even mean?”

“I have a sleep condition. I pass out sometimes. It’s fine.” I wave my hands over my body. “I’m fine.” I glance around the room. “Did you…carry me down here or something?”

“What? No. I… You don’t remember?”

I shake my head, chewing my bottom lip. “Should I?”

“You walked down here yourself. I woke you up on the floor and tried to convince you to call for an ambulance, but you swore you were fine. You came down here, but you seemed out of it, so I stayed to be sure you were okay. I…” His face falls. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I’m okay,” I assure him, running my hands over my body as if to be sure. “Thank you for staying with me, but it’s not necessary. Honestly, I’m fine.” I pause. “Holy crap…what happened with dinner?”

“I turned it off when we came downstairs. I never heard from anyone, so I guess they all figured something out. I heard Lyra and Aidy get home at some point.”

“What time is it?” The early morning light peeks in from under the curtain over the patio door, telling me I’ve been asleep for several hours with a stranger in my room.

“I…” He pats his pockets. “I have no idea, actually. My phone’s still upstairs. Yours too. I think they were both lying on the counter. Let me go check.”

“I’ll come with you.”

He pauses at the door. “Are you sure you’re okay to walk up the stairs?”

“I’m fine.”

Stepping back, he allows me to lead the way—I think more out of concern than chivalry, but I don’t say anything. Sunlight shines in around the curtains in the small den, and when I near the stairs, I can see light up there too. I listen carefully for noise—it could be five a.m. or eleven a.m., and I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference at this moment.

My head pounds as I near the top of the stairs and round the corner, staring at the pot of soup still on the stovetop.

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