I smelled him before I felt his fingers trace softly across my forehead. The mattress lowered as he laid down next to me and kissed my nose gently.
"Hey," he whispered.
I opened my eyes. John was staring at me, his face drawn with concern.
"Hi," I murmured. I pushed myself up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. John sat up and curled around me, taking me into his arms.
"Do you want to talk?" he asked quietly as his fingers stroked my hair.
I grimaced and sighed as I leaned my head on his shoulders and shrugged. "What have I gotten myself into, John?"
He sat back and grasped my arms, rubbing them up and down with his calloused hands. "What do you mean?"
I looked into his eyes and felt Ember start to come forward. She needed answers as much as I did.
John smiled slightly and stroked m
