Free Every Breaking Wave by Megan Nugen Isbell Page B

the reason you’re in this mess in the first place.  Please, Beth. Let me stay on the couch and help.”
    He squeezed my hand again and I told myself that I wasn’t breathing any harder under his gaze or that he didn’t smell so damn good. I told myself I should only be focusing on my broken wrist and getting to bed, but I was thinking of him too and truthfully, the thought of him staying under the same roof as Noah and I, protecting us, was a thought I liked. One of the hardest parts of the divorce was getting used to being alone in the house, especially when Noah was there. Any scary sounds or bumps in the night, I was responsible for making it okay.  I was the protector.  I was the one Noah looked to to tell him there were no monsters under his bed or the sound of the wind outside wasn’t burglars trying to break into our house.  It was exhausting being the one to tell him everything would be okay and there was nothing to fear, when the truth was, since Darren moved out, I’d been afraid of everything. I’d overcome so much since then. I was proud of the independence I found in myself, but that didn’t mean I missed someone taking care of me for a change and I knew someone was offering to do that for me.  For one night I could sleep peacefully, knowing he was there to keep us safe.
    “Okay,” I finally whispered and relief spread on Jeremy’s face. “There are extra blankets and pillows in the linen closest.  You can make up the couch while I get ready for bed.”
    “Let me know if you need anything,” he said as I made my way down the hall. 
    I shut the door behind me and I could hear the linen closet door open and then he was making his way back down the hall. I changed into a modest pair of pajamas. I often wore shorts and a tank top to bed, but with Jeremy just down the hall, I knew a pair of gray cotton pants and a t-shirt would be more appropriate. 
    Once changed, I brushed my teeth and washed my face as best I could with one hand and then ran a brush through my hair that had been confined in a ponytail for most of the day.  I told myself I shouldn’t be nervous as I opened the door to say goodnight to Jeremy, but I was nervous.
    He’d spread a sheet out on the couch, covered by a lightweight quilt and was just putting a pillowcase on a pillow when I walked in.
    “Did you find everything you needed?” I asked.
    “Yeah, sure did.  Thanks.”
    He tossed the pillow on the couch and then came over to me.
    “You’re all set?” he asked me and I nodded. “You should get to bed then.”
    I felt his hand land gently on my elbow as he led me down the hall and into my bedroom.  He walked over to the bed and pulled down the blanket for me.
    “You’re not tucking me in, are you?” I laughed.
    “Only if you want me to,” he said and I grinned as I made my way to the bed, crawling between the cool sheets.
    “Be right back,” he said and then disappeared down the hall, retuning a few moments later with a glass of water, setting it on the night stand. “You’ll let me know if you need anything else, right?”
    “I will,” I answered.
    “Promise?” he asked, sitting down on the edge of my mattress.
    I held up my casted right arm as if I were taking an oath.
    “I swear.” The seriousness in my voice made him laugh and then it grew quiet. “Really, Jeremy,” I finally began, breaking the silence. “I had fun tonight.  Thank you for thinking of me and asking me to play.”
    “Tonight was one of the best games I can remember,” he said, his eyes meeting mine and then I felt him take my hand again. “I haven’t known you all that long, Beth, but I’ve noticed you don’t smile much, unless it has something to do with Noah.” His words stung because I knew he was telling the truth. I didn’t smile a lot aside from Noah because I hadn’t had much to smile about since Darren destroyed my life. Tonight had been different though. “You smiled a lot today and I have to tell you…”