Enemy Basis | COMPLETE

46| all the comfort

"Hey, you okay?" Dorran asked me.

I looked up at him. Was I okay?

So much had happened. Lots of it, I was burying deep in my psyche until I had a time where I could truly process it. Things were far from easy, especially now, with Grace. It would've been infinitely easier if she were the true villain of the story - that all I had to do was hate her. But she was my cousin, my friend, and she had made a mistake. A mistake that I wanted to forgive. Sometimes, that was the harder pill to swallow.

"I guess," I told him, not knowing exactly what I was feeling at this moment.

"Come with me," he said before he grabbed my hand and led me to the backyard, away from everyone towards the quiet.

I didn't protest as he continued to drag me away. I mean, why not? To be hounded with questions and people right now was not what I wanted or needed. Still, I was curious.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked him, not able to keep quiet any longer.

He didn't reply until, seconds later, we appeared at a little veranda surrounded by apple trees. It was beautiful, idyllic, peaceful.

"What?" I was speechless, "How did you even know this was here?"

I turned to look at Dorran who made his way to the bench, getting comfortable.

"I scouted the area when you were busy," He replied simply.

I gaped at him. What a weirdo.

"Scouted the area? Since when did you work for the FBI?"

One eyebrow arched on his beautiful face. Apparently, he was not taking jokes today.

He didn't say anything and I sighed, giving in. I walked up to him and sat beside him on the bench. Almost instinctively, his arm came around me, pulling me close. Surprised but undeniably content was an understatement. I relaxed into his embrace and snuggled under his arm. Suddenly, all stress, all worries evaporated in that moment, comfort washing over me as Dorran's presence seemed to eclipse everything else.

But that was Dorran, he had this aura, this presence that made him seem larger than life, more significant than he probably realized. He moved through the world with an effortless confidence, commanding attention wherever he went. And, somehow, he had this uncanny ability to make all my insignificant problems just... melt away.

"You want to talk about it?" He questioned out of the blue.

I was hesitant but really considered it. Did I want to get it off my chest?

"I didn't peg you for a talker, more the brooding silent type," I retorted. Sometimes, I really should have put a pin in it but sarcasm came far too easy to me when things were uncomfortable.

"I hate talking..." He started, playing with the end of my hair, "Unless it's with you."

My heart thumped in my chest. Dorran had this hard shell, impenetrable at first glance but he was so compassionate under all those layers. To say that I wasn't in love with him, now and after everything would be an utter lie. The thought and feeling were so identifiable to me now, it was scary.

Now, I was mute for other reasons. Why did it feel like I had no control over my actions or my words when I was around him?

"Hmm?" He implored.

I sighed again, a deeper, more resigned sound this time. I knew he wasn't going to let this go and deep down, I also knew he was right - it would be better if I just aired it all out. Keeping it bottled up inside had never gotten me anywhere, something I had learned the hard way.