Chapter 32

The triplets and Armand continued with frequent secret meetings for the next few weeks. There was a considerable bit more guards stationed around the mansion and grounds as well. They were taking the attack seriously and seemed to be trying to prevent another one.

Even through the traumatic experience, and my continued anxiety over the kidnapping, I could feel the shift in the triplets feelings towards me.

In the hallways, instead of ignoring me, Cheney and Nicholas would smile and nod, even stopping to ask how I was a few times. Brian and I spent more and more time in the gardens just outside of the mansion, deciding the forest was a bit too far away for now.

As much as I enjoyed the shift in their attitudes towards me, the interactions always seemed a bit awkward. I thought maybe it had to do with the dream I’d had about them but didn’t want to bring it up with any of them.

One afternoon, after one of my runs, Brian and I were lounging by the garden fountain. “How are you, really?” He asked me, genuinely concerned.

I sighed, knowing that I couldn’t put off talking about it forever. “I’m ok. I just keep having these nightmares about them taking me. I know you all would never let it happen again, but every time I’m alone anywhere now, I panic a bit.”

I looked up at him, relieved to have finally said it out loud, hoping that he would understand. “That makes sense. You went through something terrible, and I’m sure it's confusing since we still don’t know what they were trying to accomplish.”

I nodded, admitting that the continued lack of information had been unsettling. All that I had learned from their continuous meetings was that somehow someone had gained inside information about our day to day activities.

Armand was being increasingly vigilant about who he trusted and how they were protecting the property.

Brian reached to place a comforting arm around me, giving me the comfort, he saw, and probably felt that I needed. Instantly, my skin sang with the contacted. I could see he felt it too, but we didn’t say anything to one another, just soaked in the comforting touch of each other.

Later in the week, I was sitting in my room, reading, and humming to myself, when I heard a soft knock. “Yes?” I looked up from my book, expecting one of the servants to peak their heads through the door.

I was shocked to see Cheney’s bright red hair slide through the door. “Hey, you busy?” He spoke quietly, in his normal gruff tone. The look on his face was shy, almost worried.

“Not at all. What’s up?” Genuinely curious about what he needed, I put my book down and rose to my feet. “Everything ok?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I was just about to head downstairs and play some music. I thought, well… maybe if you wanted, or whatever… Well, I thought maybe you might want to join me.”

He stumbled and rushed through the invitation, looking down at his feet while he spoke. I’d never seen him so vulnerable, and it warmed my heart.

“I’d love that.” I smiled at him as he looked back up at me, a small grin on his face. We walked slowly down the stairs beside each other.

“That shirt, it’s a pretty color. What do you call it?” He was looking me over, head to toe, and I remembered that his vision was color impaired. I had forgotten, also, that he could see colors when I was around, which meant all these colors were new to him.

“It’s called turquoise. Kind of a mix of blue, green, and some yellow too.” I fingered the bottom of the shirt, feeling shy now for some reason. “It’s vibrant, like your hair. I love how bright your hair is.”

We had never exchanged compliments like this before and I could tell we were both a bit uncomfortable with it. Thankfully, we reached the music room, and sat at the piano together.

His long, elegant fingers played over the keys for a few minutes. He paused, and I began to hum a random tune. He mimicked me with the keys. We went on like this together for a while, content in each other's company.

After what seemed like no time at all, I sneezed, and it broke the magic of the moment. “Bless you.” He laughed, turning to me. “I know I haven’t used this piano in a while, but I didn’t know it was that dusty.”

I laughed with him, turning in towards him as well, our thighs coming together. The contact was like fire licking up my body. I became flushed all over, and I saw the redness creep into his face and neck as well.

He cleared his throat, looking a bit sheepish. “So, how are you holding up? You know, after all that shit that happened?” He looked into my face, watching me.

I didn’t realize that he had been worried about me as well. “I’m better every day. It’s definitely taking me some getting used to, I guess, but I’m ok.” I tilted my head to the side and looked into his eyes, surprised to see compassion and worry there.

Something inside me shifted, and I placed my hand on his thigh, increasing our contact. “I’m ok, really.” Feeling like I needed to help convince him more, I grinned up into his face. He grinned back and ducked his head shyly.