FIONA | ✔️

Chapter 18

I turned for what I assumed to be the third time before I finally decided that I wasn’t getting any sleep and got up.

I always had a problem sleeping in a new environment but I think the fact that I slept in the car added to my inability to sleep.

I turned to see Emily sleeping peacefully beside me and smiled before getting up. I decided to make my way to the kitchen to see if I could find milk or something to help me sleep.

I stopped short in my steps when I saw a figure sitting on kitchen island.

“I’m guessing you couldn’t sleep too.” He said without turning to look at me.

“Not exactly a sleeper when I get to a new environment. It’s always a problem for me.” I told him before moving to the fridge and thankfully I saw a jar of milk.

I grabbed a cup and poured it into it before putting it in a pot of boiling water.

“How come you’re not asleep?” I asked him before walking to stand in front of him do he could look at me.

“I was talking to my mum and the twins.”

“It’s past one. How come they’re still awake?”

“They were binge-watching Marvel movies. It’s something my mum likes doing with them as a way of bonding.” He said with a small smile.

“What’s your way of bonding with your mum?” I asked him before dragging a stool towards me to sit so we were facing each other.

“Cooking basically. My mum’s an amazing cook so I made her teach me and now she fears I’m getting better than her.” He told me with a smirk.

“It seemed like you were complimenting your mum but it ended up being a compliment aimed at you.” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Well they go hand in hand I guess.” He answered with a shrug which made me shake my head at him with a smile.

“What’s your bonding exercise with your mum?” He asked and I immediately frowned.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you mad.” He quickly added making me shake my head at him.

“Its fine. It’s just that my parents and I haven’t really bonded in a long time. Sometimes I think they don’t know me anymore even though we live in the same house, we’re basically strangers.”

I realized I was talking too much and looked up to see him giving me the look he always gave me, like he was trying to figure me out. I didn’t want him to.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to make the atmosphere a sad one.”

“It’s fine Princess. If anything, I’d like to hear more.”

“There’s nothing to hear.” I told him getting up.

“Who’s Ethan?” He asked suddenly making me freeze.

I slowly turned to look at him with a look of horror.

“Where did you hear that name from?” I asked him in a low tone.

“You said it in your sleep twice.”

“He’s nobody.” I told him and moved to walk for him but he quickly grabbed my arm.

“Please let me go Alex.” I begged him and avoided looking at him so he would see the tears well up in my eyes.
“You keep running away,  what are you so afraid of?”

“Alex please—”

“Princess talk to me! I hate that you always have this distant look in your eyes and it kills me that I don’t know what it is so I can help you.” He begged and I looked up to see a look of despair in his eyes.