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Back The Companion Project Save as PDF
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Letting out a sigh, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. I’m really stressing out and this isn’t something I experience frequently.”

“Hey. I got you.” My hand rests on his shoulder. “It’s okay to be freaked out. I’m here with you, remember?”

Giving my hand a pat, large palm covering mine, he tilts his head toward the door. “I want to show you something before we’re ambushed. It’s a surprise.”

“Is it a kitchen full of Zebra Cakes? Or an all-you-can-eat cookie buffet?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t show you. If those are your expectations, I think you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Whoa, wait a second. Your face is flushed. Are you feeling okay?”

“What? Oh. Spent too much time in the shower, I guess.”

Lacing our hands together, he tugs me to the hall. “Come on. I think you’re going to like this.”

As he leads me from his room, I don’t miss the fact that he’s still holding my hand. Despite not having an audience, despite being all alone, our fingers intertwine, wrapped around each other for survival.

I never want to let go.

TWENTY-SEVEN

HENRY

Sconces line the wall, illuminating our journey through the quiet house. Much of my time as a kid was spent running these halls and I could walk them blindfolded and backwards, knowing exactly where to go. Exactly how many paces until I needed to turn right, and which floorboards along the way squeaked the loudest.

Reaching our destination, I stop in front of the entrance to the library, giving Emma a chance to take in the exterior of the hidden room. I haven’t told her what lies beyond the door yet, and I’m bouncing with excitement to show off the other side.

“Wow. This looks like some shit out of a castle,” she observes, her hand dropping from mine to reach out and trace the details along the eight-foot-high wooden frame.

“Just wait.” I push open the decrepit door and she gasps at the sight.

“Henry,” she whispers, walking to the center of the space. The library is circular, with floor-to-ceiling shelves and rolling ladders. Every inch is covered in literature or comfortable furniture. Her head tilts up, observing the rows and rows of books residing under a skylight, natural sunshine brightening the cozy, quiet haven. “I-I’m speechless.”

“Pretty incredible, huh? It’s my favorite room in the house. When I was younger, I’d spend my afternoons here, reading the classics and hiding away. It’s where I discovered fictional worlds where there is no evil, only good. It’s where I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. It’s where I fell in love with words. A lot of people don’t know this, but books make me happy, and I figured you could relate.”