Chapter 23
Shawn didn’t bother answering since he never cared anyway.
Kathleen wondered how he would deal with Ryan this time. She hoped it surely wouldn’t be another beating.
That evening, the family watched TV together. After 9:00 pm, Henry stood up. “It’s getting late. Let’s get some rest.”
Judy gently looked at Kathleen and Shawn. “Our family isn’t too strict. Sleep in as late as you want. No one will disturb you.”
Kathleen understood the implication and blushed slightly.
After Judy and Henry went back to their room, Kathleen turned to Shawn. “Ready to head to bed?”
He switched off the TV, after which she followed him back to the bedroom.
Once inside, she began scanning the room for a comfortable spot on the floor.
“Let me check if there’s an extra blanket in the closet,” she said, heading over to check. However, there was nothing.
Kathleen frowned. She didn’t mind sleeping on the floor, but she feared catching a cold again, especially during the holidays.
She stood there looking worried.
Shawn was surprised she was actually so obedient. Ignoring her, he went to take a shower.
When he came out, Kathleen was still standing, staring at the bed.
“Shawn, let me sleep on the bed. I promise I won’t cross any lines.” She raised her hand solemnly. “I won’t touch you at all.”
Shawn rolled his eyes, walked straight to the bed, and got under the covers.
Seeing his silence, she sighed quietly. “If I catch a cold, I’ll end up sleeping in your bed anyway.”
Shawn frowned, finally addressing her directly. “If you want to sleep here, just sleep. Stop talking.”
Kathleen instantly brightened and quickly went into the bathroom.
He took a deep breath, realizing he was slowly giving in to her.
It was like a line drawn down the center of a shared table, initially divided equally, but it gradually shifted as she took more and more space.
1/2
Kathleen came out after her shower, her hair already dry.
Shawn leaned against the headboard, looking at his phone, ignoring her.
Seeing that he was silent, she quickly climbed into bed, turned her back to him, and lay right at the edge to keep a wide distance.
She intended to keep her promise–not to touch him at all.
“Goodnight, Shawn,” Kathleen whispered as she closed her eyes.
After a while, Shawn slightly turned his head.
She was curled up into a ball near the edge of the bed, wrapped snugly in her blanket, leaving a wide gap between them.
Normally, she would take advantage verbally with eagerness, yet now she lacked the courage.
Shawn put down his phone, turned off the lights, and lay flat.
The gap felt empty and chilly. He had to shift slightly toward her to loosen the tightly stretched blanket.
Sleeping in bed with a woman for the first time, he found it uncomfortable and couldn’t fall asleep easily,
Just then, his phone buzzed, making him open his eyes again. As he reached for it, Kathleen suddenly turned over and moved closer to him.
Thanking he’d awakened her, Shawn glanced at her in the dim glow from his phone.
She slept soundly, completely unbothered by sharing the bed with him.
Shawn shook his head and sat up again. Then, he turned on the bedside lamp and opened the text message.
“Shawn, I want to come back and be with you immediately.”
He stared at the screen, pressing his lips together tightly.
Suddenly, he felt a warmth around his waist. He looked down and saw that Kathleen had moved even closer, her arm wrapped around his waist and her
Chapter 23
cheek resting against his arm.
