New Beginnings Read Free Page A

said in a dismissive tone.
    I sighed heavily and headed back to the bedroom. How in the world did he expect me to sleep? Something serious was obviously on his mind. My heart sank and my stomach flipped at the thought that he had changed his mind. Maybe he didn’t want to marry me anymore. Maybe he was ready to break it off. Why would we have come to the mountains then? He could have easily dumped me from his condo. What the hell was going on?
    I climbed into bed and tossed and turned for what felt like hours. Finally giving up on sleep, I flipped the bedside light on and noticed my iPad sitting on the nightstand. I didn’t see it earlier. He knew I hated being without it. Tears welled up in my eyes. If he was thoughtful enough to know that I would want my iPad to read with, then he couldn’t possibly be thinking of dumping me. So what was his problem?
    I grabbed my iPad and turned on the cellular data. Once it connected, I opened Safari and did a search for signs your relationship is in trouble. I was amazed at all the articles that popped up. There were so many articles about how to recognize the signs that your relationship is doomed. I stifled a yawn and fought my heavy lids as I read through one article’s many warning signs.
    I became aware of Xavier’s arms lifting me to place me back under the covers, but I made no indication that he had jostled me awake. I peeked up at him once he had me tucked in. In the muted light coming from the hall, I saw him grab my iPad. He paused before he placed it on the nightstand. Hitting the home button, he brought it out of sleep mode. Belatedly, I remembered the search I had done. Safari was still up with the articles about doomed relationships. I heard him inhale sharply. “Oh, Ella,” he said softly.
    He shut my iPad off and placed it on the nightstand. Gently, he brushed my hair back and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. I was waiting to feel the dip of the mattress indicating that he was climbing into bed, but it never came. He must’ve headed back out to the living area. Damn it, Xavier. What is wrong? Feeling exhausted, I soon drifted into a troubled sleep.
    The next morning, I woke early with a throbbing headache. Rolling out of bed, I stumbled into the bathroom in search of some acetaminophen. I stopped short at the unexpected sight of my prescription bottle of pain meds innocently sitting on the bathroom counter. The same pills that I needed for the concussion I had received after being slammed into the SUV when Stewart tackled Stephen, who was wielding a gun at Xavier and me. The pills I still sometimes needed for headaches. The pills Xavier was kind enough to remember to bring just in case I would need them.
    As I exited the bathroom, I froze on the threshold of the bedroom. Xavier’s side of the bed was completely untouched. There was something about the unruffled bedspread and perfectly placed pillow that caused a pain to slice through me. Crushed, I climbed back into the bed, curled up on my side, and drifted back to sleep.
    I didn’t wake again until almost noon. My head was feeling better and I was starving. I rolled over only to find Xavier’s side of the bed still untouched. Suddenly, I wasn’t so hungry.
    Climbing out of bed, I put on the matching robe and set out for the living room. There was Xavier exactly where I left him. He was sitting at the breakfast bar typing on his laptop. I wanted to go over to him and snuggle up behind him, but I didn’t think a move so intimate would be welcomed given his mood the last twelve hours. Instead, I made my way into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
    “Good morning,” I said quietly.
    “Good morning,” he said. His voice was devoid of any emotion. He didn’t break eye contact with his laptop.
    “Are you hungry? Can I fix you anything?” I asked as I prepared my tea.
    “I’ve already eaten,” he replied flatly.
    Oh. I turned around to face him. Leaning my hip into the counter, I gently blew into the hot