Page 72 of Beautiful Trauma

“Yes, it was.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “It’s not like it’s untrue. And it’s not like he’s been rushing to arrange a marriage for me either.”

“I still shouldn’t have said it.”

Mila laughed. “It was kinda nice seeing the perfect Kellan make a mistake.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t deny it, Golden Boy.”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “I adamantly deny being an alleged Golden Boy.”

“It’s not a bad thing.”

“Somehow in our world, I think it is,” I lamented.

With a vulnerable look, Mila said, “In my eyes, there’s nothing bad about you, Kellan.”

Just as I dipped my head to kiss her, my phone beeped with a text. With a frustrated grunt, I pulled away to reach for my phone.

“The jet will be here for us at seven.”

Mila groaned. “So early?”

I nodded. “We'd better get some sleep since we’ll have to be up around six to get a car and get to the airport.”

“I’m not even tired,” Mila protested with a yawn.

With a laugh, I replied, “Sure, you’re not.”

As she headed over to the bed, I hung back. Once she was comfortable under the covers, I grabbed the extra blanket I’d asked the front desk for. After spreading it out on the floor beside the bed, I started to lie down when Mila’s arm shot out to stop me.

“What are you doing?”

“After what you went through today, I shouldn’t sleep in bed with you.”

A slight scowl curved on her face. “I’m not going to attack you if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

“I know you won’t.”

“Then why won’t you sleep with me?”

“What if you wake up to find me beside you and it triggers a panic attack?”

She gave a slight shake of her head. “If I woke up without you, it would be far worse.”

As indecision swirled within me, I replied, “I just don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” she replied, as she tugged on my arm. When I remained unmoving, she whispered, “Please, Kellan. Hold me tonight and make me feel that no one can ever hurt me again as long as you’re around.”

After those words, I was incapable of telling her no. Nodding, I slipped into the bed. When I didn’t make a move towards her, Mila slid her body against mine. When her head nudged against my arm, I raised it, and she snuggled into my side with her head resting on my chest.

“Good night, Kellan,” she murmured drowsily.

“Good night, Mila,” I replied.