Chapter 7: The Question That Changes Everything

Marcus quickly got dressed, then pulled a big blanket from a chest and wrapped it around me without a word.

His touch was gentle, surprisingly so. The blanket smelled like cedar and laundry soap. I shivered, not from cold but from nerves.

"Your hands are so cold. Are you cold?"

He knelt in front of me, eyes searching my face for signs of distress. I tried to smile, but my lips trembled.

I didn’t care about being cold now—I got straight to the point.

My heart thudded in my chest, but I forced the words out anyway, determined not to let fear win again.

"I heard you’re going to Georgia at the end of the month. Can I go with you?"

Marcus’s jaw worked, the silence stretching so long I thought I might shatter. Then, just as I started to lose hope, he finally spoke…