31

Alice woke up with a jolt, the remnants of her nightmare clinging to her like cobwebs. Her heart was pounding, and for a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was. The strange, dimly lit room seemed unfamiliar, the shadows playing tricks on her groggy mind. Panic began to bubble in her chest as she scanned her surroundings.

Then, a soft snore broke through the silence. Her hand instinctively reached down, brushing against the warmth of Adam’s arm. He mumbled something incoherent in his sleep and rolled over, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm. Alice exhaled slowly, the fear from her dream ebbing away. The monster from her subconscious seemed so much less terrifying with Adam by her side.

She lay back against the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of a streetlamp filtering through a small gap beneath the blackout blind. The lack of light was unsettling—she wasn’t used to it. Though she’d never admit it out loud, Alice still slept with a night light at home. It wasn’t a cute quirk so much as a necessity, thanks to her overactive imagination and love for horror movies.

‘Probably should cut back on the late-night slasher marathons,’ she thought wryly, though she knew she wouldn’t. A true fan didn’t quit just because of a few bad dreams.

She glanced at Adam, who was sprawled out on the bed beside her, his mouth slightly open. It always amazed her how effortlessly he could fall asleep and stay that way, as if the weight of the world never touched him. Her lips twitched into a small smile.

Despite the comforting presence of Adam, Alice couldn’t fall back to sleep. Her mind felt too sharp, thoughts darting around like fireflies in a jar. It struck her as funny how the middle of the night could feel so clear and vivid, only for the morning to bring foggy exhaustion.

She must have dozed off eventually because the next thing she knew, Adam was nudging her awake. She groaned and tried to bury herself deeper under the duvet, clinging to it as though it could shield her from the day.

“Just five more minutes,” she mumbled, her voice muffled.

“Nope,” Adam said with mock cheerfulness, yanking the quilt away in one swift motion.

The sudden rush of cold air made her sit up, shooting him a grumpy glare. That’s when she noticed the time on the clock.

“7 am?” she cried, her tone flipping from groggy to outraged in a heartbeat.

“Gotta take Roxy for a walk, init?” Adam said, utterly unfazed. He smirked, adding, “Come take a shower with me.”

All her indignation evaporated.

“Okay,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual despite the flutter in her stomach.

The shower stall was small, forcing her to press up against Adam to fit inside. Steam quickly filled the enclosed space, curling around them like a warm fog. Alice felt hyperaware of every inch of her skin, her heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the hot water.

Adam grabbed a bottle of shower gel, pouring some into his hand before lathering it over his hair and chest. She watched him for a moment, mesmerized by the way the suds clung to his skin, before realizing she was staring.

“Do you have shampoo and conditioner?” she asked, noting the absence of any other bottles.

“No,” Adam scoffed. “What am I, a girl or something?”

Alice rolled her eyes. ‘Score one for toxic masculinity,’ she thought.

“Here,” Adam said abruptly, dumping a dollop of the cold, minty shower gel onto her head.

“Ahh!” Alice squealed as the gel dripped down her back. “You’re mean!”

“Aww,” Adam said mockingly, pulling her closer. He used the foamy lather from his chest to wash her shoulders and arms, his touch surprisingly gentle.

The intimacy of the moment made her breath catch. Communal showering was a new experience for Alice, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it would lead to something more.

‘If this were a romance film, he’d pin me against the wall and…’ She stopped the thought, feeling her cheeks flush. In real life, she figured they’d be more likely to slip and injure themselves than have a steamy cinematic moment.

Still, she couldn’t help but hope.

After drying off, she dressed quickly, her clothes feeling oddly tight and uncomfortable against her damp skin. In the kitchen, Adam rifled through a cupboard, pulling out an assortment of cereal boxes.

“Take your pick,” he said.

Alice chose rice crispies, munching quietly as Adam fed Roxy, his excitable dog. When she finished, she began tidying the kitchen without thinking, stacking bowls and wiping counters.

“You don’t have to do that,” Adam said, leaning against the doorway.

“I want to,” Alice replied.

“Why, though?” he asked, genuinely puzzled.

Alice paused, searching for an answer that didn’t sound too revealing. The truth was, she enjoyed taking care of him—keeping him happy.

“Just pushing back feminism,” she joked lightly. “The suffragettes would be so disappointed.”

Adam frowned. “Who?”

Alice smiled. “Forget it.”

They took Roxy for a walk to the local park, the cold air biting at Alice’s cheeks. The park was almost abandoned, its rusting play equipment and faded graffiti giving it an eerie, forgotten feel.

“So… what are your plans for the day?” Alice asked, hoping he’d suggest spending more time together.

Adam shrugged. “That lot’s coming over later,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You’ll have to slip out before they get here. Don’t want to explain this to Jamie.”

“Oh,” Alice said quietly.

She wondered, briefly, if she could tell her brother the truth—about Adam, about them. But Adam shut down the idea before it could fully form.

“That ain’t an option,” he said firmly.

“Right,” Alice nodded, trying to hide her disappointment.

Back at the house, they retreated to Adam’s room. He put on some music, choosing a song Alice loved without even asking. She sang along, off-key but enthusiastic.

“Yeah, yeah, I know I’m tone-deaf,” she laughed.

“Just a bit,” Adam teased, grinning.

As they talked, he surprised her by mentioning her art.

“Jamie says you’re amazing at drawing. Says your stuff looks like photographs.”

Alice blinked, caught off guard. She had no idea her brother spoke so highly of her.

“You should draw me,” Adam said, smirking.

Before she could respond, the sound of voices drifted up from downstairs. Adam stiffened, his expression sharpening.

“Quick, under the bed,” he whispered urgently.

Alice’s stomach dropped as she recognized one of the voices.

Her brother.

‘Oh, crap,’ she thought, scrambling to hide.