Free The Sanctuary by Arika Stone Page A

wanted to hear him say it again. “With what?”
    “I would tell you I loved you.”
    “So tell me.” Tears began to well up in my eyes. I swallowed hard to keep the ball that was building in my throat down.
    His eyes sparkled. “I love you.”
    And with those three small words, the tears broke ground, streaming down my cheek onto his chest. “I think I love you too.”

Chapter 10
    I buried my face into his chest. “Do we have to visit your parents? Can’t we stay here all night?”
    “I don’t want to go either, but between my father already meeting you and the stories in the papers, my mother would kill me if we didn’t make an appearance. I’ll make sure to keep it quick though. I promise.”
    “I’m nervous about meeting them.”
    “It will be okay. Besides, you have already met my father.” He tried to peel himself away, but I was dead weight. “Why don’t we take a shower?”
    “I’m tired. I’ll hop in after you.”
    He headed into the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I was feeling a bit nauseous; it had been a rollercoaster of a day.
    Perhaps my mood swings were because it was that time of the month. I pulled out my phone to check my app. I’d skipped a cycle or hadn’t logged it.
    I dialed Vicki. I knew she would remember.
    “Do you remember if I got my period last month?” I blurted out before she could say hello.
    Vicki laughed. “You got it two days after me. Why?”
    “I’ve been emotional all day. I may have ripped Val’s heart out before putting it back into place. Anyway, when was it?”
    “Off the top of my head, I’d say the fourth.”
    I looked at the calendar on my phone, “I’m late.”
    Val entered the room. “You’re what ?”
    “I’ve got to run. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I hung up. It would be my luck that he’d walked in at the wrong moment.
    “You’re not on birth control?” He placed his hands squarely on the bed, staring at me sternly.
    “I have an IUD. But ever since I got it, my periods have been irregular.”
    “Well, that’s a relief.” Val opened the closet, rummaging through his clothes. He had a massive wardrobe for a man. He motioned to the bathroom. “You better shower, or we’ll be late.”
    There was an air of coldness to his voice, but I didn’t have time to pick at his brain. I needed to get ready. As soon as I stepped into the shower, Val called out through the glass.
    “What’s the matter?” I opened the door. The steam from the hot shower flooded the room.
    “I have something to tell you.” His face was pensive. He glanced down. “We may not be able to have children. I know this is way ahead of time, but I thought you should know.”
    I leaned on the shower door. “No worries. It wouldn’t bother me in the least.”
    “You don’t want kids?”
    “I honestly don’t care. I’m selfish. I’m not a kid person. I want to travel to strange places on a whim.” I smiled. “Why do you say we can’t have kids?”
    “You know, all the”—he stumbled over his words—“the partying, the drugs, the alcohol. I’ve done damage. I know it.”
    “That means we can fuck like bunnies all day.” I leaned out and planted a kiss on his lips. “And if we didn’t have to meet your parents, we could fuck like bunnies all night.” I winked; it was my way of telling him it was okay.
    He laughed. “We will, but after dinner.” He closed the shower door. “Ahh, Eve, I love you.”
    I froze. I knew I’d said those words hours before; in the heat of the moment they had felt right.
    I lingered in the shower before stepping out to dress. I needed to change the topic to avoid any love conversations. He was still getting ready in the bathroom.
    I stood next to him and toweled off, drying my hair as I watched him in the mirror. It was odd to share close quarters, to do ordinary things together. It was the same disquieting feeling of normalcy I’d felt last night and again this morning. Is this what love felt