Chapter4

#Chapter4

Good News-02

/"Just leave them on the couch. I’m done cleaning that area./"

/"You don’t have to clean alone, you know./"

/"Just go and make a list of what we need from the grocery./"

I ignored his heavy sighing. Not a few seconds later, he was sneezing and running out of the cabin that made me chuckle.

What I learned about this life was nothing came for free. You had to work hard to earn something. I guess the decision of my independence had taught me the hard way, and so far, I liked it.

I was beyond exhausted when I was done in the bathroom. I was sweating like a pig and sticky with dust. I could smell myself like an old house and soot. I laid back on the couch, trying to catch some rest for a few minutes before we headed to the town.

/"Harry!/"

/"Dang it, Keene. Are you trying to give me an early heart attack?/" I rubbed my eyes, lifting my gaze to him.

/"Sorry./" He gave me an apologetic look.

/"How long did I pass out?/"

He shrugged. /"Three hours?/"

/"Three hours?/" I asked incredulously. /"And you did not wake me up?/" I stood up quickly, grabbing his hand. /"Let’s go then. Did you have the list?/"

/"Yeah, and went there while you passed out. I know how grumpy you are when someone disturbs your sleep./"

I paused, narrowing my eyes at him. /"What the hell? Why did you go alone?/"

/"Because I can, and you’re tired. I did come back safe and sound, so stop worrying about me like I'm gonna melt in front of you./"

/"Don’t do that again, Keene./" I walked past him, still scowling. /"Close the door behind you./"

/"Wait! You’ve been tired lately, Harry. Do you have trouble sleeping?/"

My throat suddenly thickened. /"No./"

/"Then what have you been up to?/"

/"Nothing./"

/"If you’re worried about—/"

I turned to face him. /"I’m fine, okay? I promise./"

He had a lot on his plate right now, and I couldn’t add another. I knew he tried his best to be strong when I was around, but deep inside, he was struggling. I guessed we deal with our pain in different ways.

I strode toward the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. And he was right—he did the grocery on his own. The fridge was full.

A small smile curved up my lips when I saw some cups of peach yogurt—my favorite. /"Thank you./"

/"That’s the least I can do after I left you alone cleaning the entire cabin./" I didn’t miss the guilt in his voice.

/"And I can’t let you die from sneezing./" I rolled my eyes.

/"Go ahead and hit the shower. I’ll make us some sandwich./" He grabbed the fresh lettuce and tomato from the fridge, then he stopped. /"I can feel when you’re watching me, Harry. I’m not that weak and won’t collapse on your watch. Just take the freaking shower./"

/"Who said you’re weak? Besides, you went to buy stuff on your own./"

/"You’re not gonna drop it, are you?/" He took a sandwich loaf, slicing it in half. /"Which do you prefer halloumi or cheddar?/"

/"Upgraded, huh?/" I chuckled.

/"We’ve got a guest tomorrow, darling, and you can’t just feed him with couscous salad every day./"

/"What’s wrong with couscous? I can make something more than a salad out of it./"

/"I know, chef Westley./" He rolled his eyes. /"This will be done in a few minutes. Now get your ass ready because I’m starving. You’ll sleep early tonight, Harry. No more stalking your dysfunctional family on the Internet./"

My chest ached every time he mentioned my perfect family. /"That was only one time. I just wanna see my sister, and I’m just curious if how they had been without the black sheep of the family./"

He searched something on my face, then nodded slowly.

I walked away, releasing the breath I held for a while.

Thank, God! He didn’t pry.

***

AFTER OUR lunch, I rechecked the email. Our guest hadn’t yet arrived when he supposed to be here before twelve. And there was no way the flight had been canceled because of the weather. Unless he changed his mind.

Well, if he did, we wasted our time for that jerk.

/"I’ll bring some supply, Keene. Just lead him to his cabin if he arrives before I’m done, okay?/" I could feel my increasing heartbeat. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm it down.

Yesterday I was completely drained to even put some bottled water in the cabin. I hoped this man would arrive today because I was going to curse him for the whole month if he would not show his ass up here.

I looked around when I was done. It looked spotless, and things seemed to be in the right places. I was ready to bail out when I caught a very distinctly male voice, and it was not Keene’s.

Our guest had finally arrived.

Great!

There was something in his accent that seemed different. An Irish? Australian?

Thanks, mate. Oh, British! Our guest is a freaking Brit?

How in the hell did he find this place?

I scurried toward the living room when the sunlight entered the cabin, indicating that Keene or our guest just entered.

A tall shadow hovered.

His voice was deep, yet so calm as he got closer to me. He was still talking with Keene when he stopped in the middle of the living room, dropping his suitcase and cargo bag beside the couch. He then snapped his gaze at my direction when he perhaps, sensed they were not alone.

Then our gazes locked. Suddenly, his gunmetal blue eyes widened as if showing some recognition, and his jaw literally dropped.

Crap!

My lips instantly dried with dread. Just the pain forming in my chest due to the hammering of my heart almost made me feel dizzy.

Oh my, God! What if?

/"Sindy?/"