Chapter hundred and twenty

Dallas

I squinted my eyes, the brightness in the room piercing through my lids. My vision slowly adjusted and I realized where I was. I smiled as the warmth of his chest seeped into my skin and I felt his gentle breaths caress my neck.

I turned my head slightly, careful not to disturb him, and caught a glimpse of his face. His features were relaxed in sleep, his rugged jawline softened, and his lips slightly parted.

The cut on his lip and the bandage on his head and hand stirred a pang in my chest. My fingers itched to run through his hair, but I refrained, knowing that it would wake him up, and I didn't want that.

Not yet. I wanted to savor this moment, this feeling of being close to him, of being safe in his arms. So I snuggled closer.

But I soon felt a burning urge to use the bathroom. I tried to move out of Oliver's embrace but he tugged me closer to himself.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” I whispered, hoping he'd let go.

His only response was a groan before pulling me closer to himself. I let out a chuckle.

“If I don't go, we're gonna have a disaster in like 30 seconds.”

He cracked an eye opened but quickly shut it, either because of the blinding lights or the injection still coursing through his system, I didn't know. He needed rest, a lot of it.

He finally let me go and I scurried off. When I was done, I decided to go downstairs for some water. The kitchen was empty which meant Heather wasn't awake yet. I opened the fridge to take water out of it when something caught my eyes.

Some chocolate cake placed in a small box. I grabbed it and set it down on the kitchen island. I went to grab a fork when,

“Already hoarding the cakes in the house. It's like you never left.” A soft chuckle followed the statement.

I winced slightly and turned towards the voice, buy I already knew who I would find.

“Morning, Heather.” I grabbed the fork and sat on the island. “Did you sleep well?”

I haven't seen Heather since she brought some clothes to the cabin three days ago. I was too focused on reaching Oliver last night that I didn't see her.

“Very well.” she trudged towards me and grabbed the water I took out of the fridge. Before I could object, she'd already downed the content.

I glared at her but she simply chuckled. Then she brought out another bottled water and set it beside me.

“Thank you for calling me last night.” I swallowed hard as the image of Oliver's battered face flashed across my mind. I wasn't sure I'd forget the sight anytime soon.

Heather's face softened and she squeezed my shoulder.
“It was the right thing to do.” She said. “I also figured it'd get me off your “people I want to strangle to death” list, because of what I pulled with Oliver.”

We both chuckled at that. She was referring to how she bailed on me and sent Oliver in her stead.

“Nah, you're still on. You're at the very top. Do you know how shocked I was when I saw him on the porch? You promised you won't tell anyone.”

“You'd think getting you to reunite with your boyfriend would get you to forget that bit of information.” She murmured.

I lifted an eyebrow at her, a silent demand that she start talking.

“I didn't tell him where you were. He just guessed. The man literally searched all the hotels in the city to see where you might be staying. He was that desperate to see you.”

I tucked away that piece of information and tried hard not to blush. He'd done that for me. It wasn't hard to believe. He had established that he would do anything for me this past few months. But it doesn't stop me from turning into a tomato each time he does something for me.

“When he didn't see you lodge in any, he figured out where you might have been. The absence of the cabin's key in your room was the final piece of the puzzle.” She sighed.

“When he cornered me and demanded I shouldn't tell you of his plans to visit you, I wanted to refuse him. But the look on his face–”

She shook her head and shuddered slightly, not from fear, I realized, but from how devastated Oliver must have looked then. I felt a pang of sorrow in my chest.

I had caused that. I had done that to him because I listened to my goddamned father and kept him in the dark.

“I couldn't say no. And no one knows the reason you broke up with him, not even Lisa or me. I just thought you both needed to talk some things out. I'm sorry if I crossed some line by not respecting your wishes.”

I stood up from where I was sitting and trudged towards her.

“You don't have anything to be sorry for. Thank you.” I smiled genuinely.

She gave me a small mld while smiling.

“Good. Otherwise I'd have to look around for some metal armor to don, preferably a neck helmet. Yeah, that should do against strangling. But I'm glad I don't have to continue in my search. I don't think the King family were ever warriors. There was nothing useful in the gallery.”

“Oh, better continue your search, Miss. You're not off the list yet.” I chuckled.

“What?” She winced.

“I was in my freaking pajamas when he showed up. My hair was a mess. I hadn't even showered.” I half yelled.

Heather tipped her head back and laughed.
“You were worried about how you looked?”

I wasn't. All rational thoughts eddied out of my head the moment I saw him on the porch. It was after he left that I noticed those details.

“Of course, I was worried. I should look hot every time he sees me.” I frowned.

“Like you do right now?” She folded her arms across her chest and I could see that she was trying hard to hold her laughter.

I was in one of Oliver's t-shirt, my hair packed into a messy bun. I haven't taken a shower yet.

“Well, some might call this hot.” I angled my arms on my hips and pouted, a laughable pose, I knew.

Heather burst into laughter. She clutched her stomach and leaned on the counter, cackling. I joined her.

We laughed our asses off till tears streamed down our faces. I heard footsteps approaching but I couldn't stop myself. Neither can Heather, it seems.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Heather and I whipped our heads to the direction of the voice and halted our crazed laughter.

Ethan was standing by the entrance, looking down to earth as ever. His dirty blonde hair was disheveled and his shirt unbuttoned as if he just shrugged it in a hurry. It seems he passed the night here. I didn't even know there was someone else in the house.

“Morning, Ethan.” I flashed him one of my sweetest smile.

“Morning, sweetheart.” He smiled before winking at me.

His eyes fell on Heather and did a quick sweep of her body. Heather held his gaze, a scowl plastered on her face.

Someday, I will learn the history between those two.

“Do I even wanna know what got the both of you cackling this early in the morning?” His gaze darted between Heather and I.

“Trust me, you don't want to know.” I chuckled.

He shrugged.

“I think we might have a problem.” He announced, all traces of amusement fading from his face.

My stomach flipped as I beheld the serious exprssion on his face. I suddenly didn't want to know whatever he wanted to say.

“I think Lucien made his first move.”