Chapter 17
“You’re cheating.”
I grinned over my shoulder, smudges of charcoal on my cheek. Joseph stood behind me, arms crossed, brow raised as he surveyed my half-finished sketch of him.
“Excuse me?” I laughed, flicking my pencil toward him. “You said to draw you how I see you.”
“I didn’t know that meant adding muscles I don’t have,” he teased, walking over. “I look like a Marvel superhero in this.”
“Maybe I see you that way,” I murmured, nudging his arm. “You did carry me out of a burning apartment like one.”
He rolled his eyes and leaned in to kiss the top of my head. “Flattery will not distract me from
the truth.”
‘Oh, it already did.”
We both laughed.
That was what our days had become-light, playful, ordinary in the most extraordinary ways. spent mornings in my studio while he worked his hospital shifts. Afternoons were often ours- coffee runs, quiet walks, stolen kisses when no one was watching.
That day, we decided to cook together.
I’m warning you now,” I said, chopping vegetables. “I burn water.”
I’m a doctor,” he replied, tying an apron around his waist. “If anything goes wrong, I’m legall ›bligated to save you.”
We danced around each other in the kitchen, joking, bumping shoulders. When I accidentally Iropped the salt, Joseph dipped his finger in it and tapped the tip of my nose.
Salty,” he declared.
retaliated with flour on his cheek.
wenty minutes later, dinner was a mess, the counter looked like a battlefield, but we were aughing too hard to care. We ate by the window, legs tangled under the table, the city lights lickering beyond the glass.
Thank you,” I said softly.
For what?”
For this. For giving me something I didn’t think I’d have again.”
He reached out, took my hand. “Allison, you gave it to yourself. I just showed up for the best
part.”
Later that night, I sat on the edge of the bed, watching him unbutton his shirt.
‘Joseph?”
He looked up.
“Do you ever think we rushed into this?”
He smiled, sitting beside me. “All the time.”
My eyes widened. “Wait, seriously?”
“Yes,” he chuckled, brushing my hair behind my ear. “But not because it feels wrong. Because it feels so right, it scares me.”
I touched his face gently, feeling the stubble beneath my fingertips. “You always know the right thing to say.”
“I’m just saying the truth.”
His lips found mine-slow, certain. The kiss deepened, pulling us into the sheets, into the soft rhythm of two people who weren’t afraid to love anymore.
There were no ghosts in that room. No pain.
Only skin and whispers, only laughter muffled by kisses.
Only us.
The next morning, I was painting in the studio, dressed in one of Joseph’s oversized shirts and humming to myself when he walked in with coffee.
‘Freshly brewed,” he announced. “Two sugars, splash of milk.”
You are dangerously good at this.”
I aim to impress.”
He kissed my temple and watched as I worked.
What are you painting?”
I don’t know yet,” I said, looking at the canvas. “But it feels… peaceful.”
Then you’re painting us.”
looked at him, smiling. “Maybe I am.”
Ve spent the afternoon lying on the couch, me reading, him napping with his head in my lap. raced the shape of his face with my fingers as he slept, marveling at how calm he looked-hov
nuch safer I felt.
t was almost sunset when my phone buzzed.
reached for it lazily, expecting a text from my professor or a gallery update.
But it wasn’t either.
Jnknown Number: “You’re going to pay for everything. You ruined my life. I will not let you have River again.”
My blood ran cold.
sat upright so suddenly that Joseph stirred. “Allison? What’s wrong?”
didn’t answer.
just stared at the message, heart pounding in my chest. I read it once. Then again.
knew that tone. That venom.
It could only be her.
“Who is it?” Joseph sat up now, voice laced with concern.
I turned the screen toward him.
His expression darkened.
“Candice,” I said quietly, my voice barely a breath.
“She knows your number?”
“I-I don’t know how she got it. I changed everything.” My hands were shaking. “What does she mean? Why now?”
Joseph’s jaw tightened. “I don’t like this. She sounds unhinged.”
I bit my lip, trying to stay calm. But the words echoed in my
Why now?
head.
Had something happened?
Had River done something?
And why did it feel like… they’re going to ruin my peace again?
