#Chapter 38: Just in Case

As if by instinct, he wrapped his arms around me. The anxiety that was causing a raging storm inside me finally settled as we laid there silently. I even placed my hand upon his chest, closing my eyes. It was the most calm I had felt since being a child, roaming in fields and getting grass stains on your nice skirt was the only worry. I smelled his scent with immense pleasure, the lavender soothing me, my perfumed lullaby. “I’d call this a victory,” Aldrich sleepily mumbled, “the girl who ruthlessly attacked me this morning is now in my arms in bed.” I reached my hand up and flicked him in the nose. He flinched, chuckling softly. “Goodnight, Aldrich,” I said, mentally rolling my eyes. *** When I awoke, I realized two very striking pieces of information. The first one was: I actually slept through the night. And there was no night terror, no screaming. The only thing I was waking up to was uncontained, unfiltered sunlight pouring