It was 1:45 a.m. She’d avoided thinking about him most of the evening, enjoying Nick’s food and company as they shared a bottle and a half of wine and light conversation, but as soon as he left her, as soon as she was alone with her thoughts, she became consumed by Phil. Her mind was her enemy, trying to convince her something was wrong so she would reach out to him. She pulled up the pictures of him and Kim on her cell phone, flipping through them until all desire to reach out to Phil disappeared.

The door to the master suite was closed but unlocked. When she stepped into the room, she could tell from the heaviness of his breathing that Nick was asleep. After quietly crossing to the bed, she lifted the comforter and slid beneath. His deep breathing stopped as soon as she lay back on the pillow.

“Lina?”

“I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered. “Please—just let me sleep here.”

“Just a second.” He was off the bed and crossing to his closet.

Lina caught her breath as she realized he was completely naked, the moon coming through the window illuminating his muscled back, butt and legs. His body reminded her of the dancers’ she saw when she attended The Nutcracker the Christmas before. He disappeared into the closet and moments later reappeared in black cotton leisure pants, his hairless chest bare. An image of Phil’s hair-covered chest flashed through her mind.

“Talk to me,” he said after stretching out beside her and propping himself up on his elbow.

“I just can’t sleep,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be alone.” She slid her body closer to his. “Would you just hold me?”

“Lina, I don’t—”

“Please.” She turned onto her side, backing her body into the length of his. “Hold me.”

He whispered something that sounded to her like “God, help me,” and then he was pulling her back into his warmth, his arms wrapped around her body, his chin resting on top of her shoulder

“Thank you.” She settled back against him, her hand resting on the back of one his as it lay splayed over her ribcage.