Page 66 of Trust Again

“You brought me chocolate, you made sure I’d get a nice room. Sounds pretty saintly to me,” I replied, hoisting myself onto the woodblock counter and letting my legs dangle down.

Spencer put the last things in the fridge and then closed the door a little too hard. I winced and looked at him wide-eyed. He leaned back against the door and closed his eyes. He took a few deep breaths.

“Spence? Are you okay?”

He rubbed his forehead with both hands.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just haven’t gotten enough sleep.”

There was an undertone in his voice that caught my attention. “Did you go back home again?”

He looked at me silently for a few seconds. And then he nodded slowly.

I slipped off the counter and went to him, reaching for his arm and gently stroking my thumb over his wrist. “Is everything really fine?” I whispered.

He shook his head. And his eyes grew darker and more somber than I’d ever seen them.

Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around him. Forget my questions or curiosity. I just wanted to banish that sad expression from his eyes. It took a moment before Spencer returned the hug. His arms circled me tightly and he buried his face in my shoulder. He was trying to breathe deeply but his chest was trembling. Shuddering, he gripped my waist even tighter.

“Thanks,” he murmured into my neck, his words lightly tickling me. My hands moved along his back, in calming, even motions.

“I wish I could do more to help.”

“This is already more than I deserve.”

Before I could ask what that meant, he let go of me and stood up straight. Footsteps were approaching, and Spencer put on his happy face.

Kaden appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Feel like going to the State Park?”

Walking through the botanical garden of Shore Acres State Park was like being in a jungle of flowers. A pleasant, heavy perfume hung in the air, tickling my nose. Wherever you looked, colors shimmered brightly.

We’d been wandering through the park for an hour. Allie was turning the map over and around, while Kaden and Spencer dismissed her efforts with a chuckle and walked on ahead. Monica was enjoying taking photos of everything while Ethan held her purse. As for me, I went around touching almost every plant in the park, to convince myself that they were real—they were that gorgeous.

“Dawn, smile,” Monica called out.

I turned and smiled for the camera. A few clicks later, Monica ran ahead and tried to get Kaden and Spence to pose for a photo in front of a fountain.

“Dawn, get next to Allie,” she cried.

“Put that thing away and enjoy the scenery, Monica.” Kaden made a face and crossed his arms behind his head.

“If you’d smile for the camera, I might.”

I snuggled between Allie and Spencer and grinned at Monica’s efforts to get Kaden to pose for the camera. It was a pointless undertaking. No one had ever succeeded at it, not even Allie. Instead, he flipped her off.

“Charming, Kaden,” I grumbled.

Spencer threw an arm over my shoulder and I looked up at him. He smiled broadly. No one would have known that just a few hours ago he was standing in the kitchen looking as if he’d just had the worst night of his life.

Noticing my glance, he leaned down to whisper in my ear: “You really shouldn’t look at me so intently, Sweetie. Otherwise, Monica’s gonna be preserving the image of the bulge in my jeans for posterity.”

“I might want a copy of that.”

His grin widened and a pleasant warmth spread in me. At least I could make him laugh.

Monica fumbled with her tripod and then waved Ethan over to us. She set the self-timer and I put on my best smile.

“Kaden, come on, put your finger down.”