30

FALLON My heart is still thundering from the relief that washes over me as I hand the phone back to Milo, his penetrating gaze still studying my face. I slide off his lap, the warmth of his body lingering on my skin, which starts to shiver from the chill in the room. “Thank you,” I tell him, and he nods once. I move toward the couch, and Milo offers me the remote, but I don’t take it. He sighs, sitting back down and flicking through the channels before settling on the news. Eventually, the tension seeps out of my muscles, exhaustion claiming me, and I let myself drift into a shallow sleep. However, the transition from consciousness is so subtle that I only realize I’ve fallen asleep when I’m jolted awake by the sensation of being lifted. My eyes snap open in alarm, but I quickly feign sleep, my body going limp as I’m placed gently onto the bed. The fear of what Milo might do sends a tremble through me, but he doesn’t linger; he tugs the blanket over me. He moves away, and through my ba