Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 84

NADINE’S P.O.V

Rowan never admitted what Joshua said to him.

I fell asleep in his arms on the couch, but when I woke up, we were lying in bed. I was practically dragged over him and his arms were wrapped around my shoulders and back.

He must’ve carried me while I slept and changed me because I was wearing his shirt and a pair of shorts. It was the most vulnerable I’d slept since we’d been out here. I usually slept in clothes I could easily run in.

I stared at him, the rise and fall of his chest as he slept and his hair that fell over his eyes. Last I remembered, he’d tied it into a man bun, it must have come undone as he slept.

I fought the urge to push his hair out of his eyes. I knew it’d only end up waking him up, so instead, I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, his stubble grazing my lips as I did. I let my lips linger on his skin for longer than I should’ve before pulling back and gently disentangling myself from his arms.

He made a small sound under his breath and opened his eyes. "Princess?"

"I’m fine," I assured him. "I’ll be back in a few seconds. I want to get some water."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "I’m fine."

I stumbled out of the room barefooted and found my way into the living room in complete darkness. By the time I got to the bottle I’d left on the coffee table, I’d stubbed my toe at least three times. I grabbed it, ready to return to the room when I felt something unusual.

It was almost as if someone was watching me. I stood up straight and turned slowly but it was so dark that I couldn’t see anyone. I tried to shake it off and told myself it was my imagination. I hurried back to the room which ultimately proved to be the wrong move because I slammed my toe hard into the doorframe and slipped.

I would’ve gone flying back when a hand wrapped around my side and a hand covered my mouth, preventing my small scream.

"Are you always this fucking clumsy?" Joshua hissed in my ear as he pulled me to a stop. "You would’ve given away our location."

I turned to him. In the dark, I was able to make out his silhouette and his white shirt. I was relieved that he’d caught me, but I was also fucking pissed that he was watching me in the first place.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. "And don’t give me that bullshit about just passing by. I felt you watching me."

"I didn’t know it was you at first. I was hoping you’d speak. It wasn’t my intention to scare you."

"Whatever," I mumbled. "I have to go."

"Wait."

His hands wrapped around my shoulder, keeping me in place. "Are you alright? You must have stubbed your toe pretty hard."

On a good day, his worry would’ve been endearing, but right now, it only pissed me off. Rowan hadn’t told me anything about the conversation they had, but judging by the question he’d asked me yesterday, I knew that Joshua must have said something to him. Rowan had never questioned what we had before.

"I’m fine," I repeated. "Excuse me."

He still didn’t let go. "Did I do something? You seem to be pissed off at me. I already apologized for scaring you."

He continued ranting about how sorry he was if he’d upset me in any way and that managed to get on my very last nerves.

"Leave me alone," I whisper yelled, tugging my arm from his grip. "And stay the fuck out of my relationship with Rowan."

Understanding dawned on him and he crossed his eyes over his chest. "He reported me to you? All I was trying to do was look out for you. Why the hell would he tell you?"

"He didn’t. Quite the contrary actually, he didn’t say a thing. You just did. I know you’re trying to be my friend right now, Joshua, and I really appreciate you, but I need you to keep whatever thoughts and opinions you have to yourself. I love Rowan and that’s not going to change."

"Don’t you realize that everything that has happened to you only happened because of him?"

"Excuse me?"

"If he never came into your life then you would’ve been with me when the bunker fell. We’d have been brought to safety together. You’d have never gotten pregnant. You would’ve never been hurt."

I took a step back, my eyes wide with shock. "Are you trying to blame this on him? The General hurt me, my father left me behind. Rowan saved me. How can you defend them and blame him?"

"I’m not defending them. I just- I don’t think he’s good for you."

"Well it’s a good thing I don’t need your fucking opinion," I hissed. "Don’t you ever-"

"Princess?"

Rowan’s voice cut through the air. It was soft, barely over a whisper, but it was enough. I shot Joshua one last hateful look, hoping that he’d be able to see it through the darkness and followed the sound of Rowan’s voice.

I forced a small smile on my face before responding. "I’m right here. Sorry, I got side tracked."

He reached out for me, his hand softly stroking my cheek. "Are you alright? What happened? I heard voices. Were you talking to someone?"

I thought about the conversation with Joshua and everything he’d said. I knew I couldn’t say a word about it to Rowan, not only would he not take it well, I also didn’t want to breathe that bad air into what we had.

"I was talking to myself," I lied. "I kept stubbing my toe. I couldn’t find my way around."

He laughed. "In the next house, I’ll keep water by the bed for you, okay?"

"Okay," I nodded. "Can we go back to bed now?"

"Of course, princess."

He picked me up in his arms, gently carrying me into the room. He was careful not to bump into any walls or doorframes. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face into his throat. I didn’t let go, not even when he lowered us into bed together.

"Are you sure that everything is okay?" he asked and I nodded slowly. "Princess, you know that you can tell me anything, right?"

I merely nuzzled closer to him. "I know."

He sighed, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me tighter. His hands stroked my hair in slow and deliberate strokes. Each touch of his hand sent shivers down my spine and stripped me of all my defenses. I could feel sleep beginning to take hold when he spoke.

"Joshua said something to you, didn’t he?"

My heart raced. "No he didn’t, I just-"

"You don’t have to defend yourself, I’m not upset with you. What did he say?"

"It doesn’t matter."

"Nadine-"

"What he said to you earlier, does it matter?"

There was silence for a minute before a sigh. "No."

"Good, so please, I want to forget about him for now. He helped you get out, he helped us and we owe him for that. He is entitled to his opinions of us."

"I don’t like it."

"Neither do I, but we’re fresh out of friends right now, Rowan. We need him as much as he needs us."