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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

I hurry through my nighttime routine, eager to return to his arms. When I reemerge in the bedroom, I find Henry propped up on the pillows, an arm behind his head. Throwing my shirt and shorts back on seems futile at this point, but I do it anyway, walking to my side of the mattress and crawling under the covers.

“Can I sleep near you?” I ask, not wanting to take over too much of his personal space. I know his usual M.O. after being with a woman is expeditiously escorting her away. I don’t want to spook him or make him think I’m ready to swap house keys.

He smiles at me sleepily, eyes already closing. “Come here, honey. I missed you.” He opens his arms in invitation and I scoot toward him, nestling in his embrace. My back presses against his chest, and I hear him sigh contently. The noise fills me up, warming my blood and reassuring my racing heart.

“It’s kind of scary how natural this feels,” I say, closing my eyes as Henry turns off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

“I know,” he agrees, cheek resting in my hair and fingers intertwining with mine, seeking solace while sharing scary words. “You feel… right.”

“You feel right, too.” I yawn. “Save your questions for tomorrow. I’m too tired.”

“Anything for you, Sunflower.”

As my breathing evens out and I begin to step toward a dream, an echo of Henry’s voice filters through the air. It’s so soft, so sincere, so serene, I’m not sure it’s real or part of my imagination.

“I think I’m falling for you, Emma.”

THIRTY-THREE

HENRY

My childhood bedroom is warm when I wake up. I should have cracked open a window last night to let in the outside air.

I open my eyes and squint at the bright morning sun greeting me, blinking twice before darting my gaze to the sleeping form coiled tightly around me. I find the source of my rapidly approaching heat stroke and have zero complaints. The sweat prickling my forehead is worth it.

Emma.

My smile comes immediately. She’s still sleeping soundly, off in a dream, and I stroke her cheek, reveling in the smooth skin under my palm. Her head is on my chest, hair tickling my nose with every inhale. Her hand rests on my stomach, rising and falling with my rhythmic breathing. Her legs are curled up against her chest, pressing into my hip.

“Good morning,” I whisper, shifting forward to press a soft kiss to her forehead, not wanting to disturb her slumber.