Chapter 100: I'll Protect You

I'm woken abruptly by the sound of Aurora's mobile phone. It's shrill and piercing in the early evening calm that fills our apartment.

Aurora tightens her arms around me, ignoring the sound.

"Aurora, it's your phone."

She grumbles and rolls over away from me, covering her head with her pillow. I get out of bed and reach for her jeans that are sprawled across our bedroom floor with the rest of our clothes. I pull out her phone and check the caller ID. It's Tallulah.

"Hi Tallulah," I answer the phone as I pull my clothes back on.

"Landon?" she asks. "Where's Aurora?" Her voice is demanding and urgent. She sounds apprehensive.

"What's wrong Tallulah?" I ask. "Aurora's asleep. Do you want me to wake her?"

"Yes! Sh*t! She can't be asleep. F*ck."

"Tallulah explain," I command her authoritatively.

"Mrs Stone has just come by the apartment," Tallulah gushes, and her words merge. "Aurora hasn't told them, has she?"

"No." I frown. "She keeps chickening out."