Chapter569LetMeInForTheNight
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Thehallwayhadfourwallsand<b>a</b>ceiling.Theywerecertainlynotthestreets,but<b>it</b><b>was</b>genuinelycoldinthemiddleofthenight,withnowheretosit.
HencedatthesecurelylockeddoorofhisownhouseandthenatLysander’sdoor,whichwasatleaststillopen,hopeflickeringin<b>his</b>eyes.
Afterheroutburst,Lysanderwasnolongersleepy.Shesaidrationally,“There’snopointinlookingatme.Idon’thavethekeytoyourhouse.Findsomeohelp.Doesn’tyourcookhaveakey?”
Inshort,shewasimplyingthathehadbetternotthinkaboutclingingtoheragain.
JosiahhesitantlywithdrewhishandfromblockingthedoorandnoticedthatLysanderdidnotimmediatelyshutit.Hepushedhisluckandsaid,“Marthadoeshaveakey,butmyphoneislockedinside
thehouse.”
Lysanderreachedforherphone.“Noproblem,you<b>can</b>usemine.”
Josiah<b>had</b>areadyexcuse.“HowcouldIrememberMartha’snumber?Besides,itisalreadypastmidnight.EvenifIdidremember,itisinappropriatetowakeherupnow.”
Lysanderknewthebestsolutionbutdidnotwanttosuggestitherself.SeeingthatJosiahdidnotbringitup,shequestioned,“Don’tyouhaveasparekeyat home?”
<b>Josiah</b>sighedandreplied,“No.”
Lysanderrespondedfirmly,“Youshouldhaveone.”
Josiahshookhishead.“Ireallydon’t.”
Ashespoke,hisfaceturnedslightlypalefromthecolddraft.
Notosparehisfeelings,Lysandersaidbluntly,“Josiah,haveyouheardthestoryof“TheBoyWhoCriedWolf“?YouknowwhathappenedthsttimeIletyouinwhenwewereinApexCity.Areyoutryingthe<b>same</b>trickagain?”
<b>Josiah</b>knewhiscredibilitywasshot.Moreexnationswereuseless.Rubbinghisthrobbingtemples,heasked,“Ireallydon’tmeananyharm.I<b>am</b>stillrecovering,andIknowyou’vebeenbusy.Canyouletmein–totalk?1amfreezingouthere.”
Lysandereyedhisthinloungewearandrespondedcalmly.“Waithere,”
Josiahdidnotunderstandbutthistimedidnottrytoforce hiswayin.Hesimplystoodthereandwaited.
Amomenter,Lysanderreturned,meetinghis<b>gaze</b>.
“Moneyora<b>chair</b>.Whichonedoyou<b>want</b>?There’sahotelnearbywithdecentconditionswhereyoucanstayforthenight.Orifyoureallydon’twanttogofar,youcansitonthechairandwaituntilmorning.Once<b>the</b>propertymanagementofficeopens,thoseondutywillhelpyougetin.”
“IdidnotbringmyID,soI<b>can’t</b>checkin.”
“Fine!thenitisthechair.I’lllendyouanket.”
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Josiahdidnotexpectthisoueandfelta<b>pang</b>of disappointment.Bracingagainstthecold,hesaidthroughgrittedteeth<b>,</b>“<b>Can’t</b>youjustletmeinforthenight?”
Lysanderpreparedtoclosethedoor.“No.”
Josiahtookadeepbreath,changingtactics.“Itisreallycoldoutside.Myclothesarethin,andIhaven’tdriedmyhairproperlyafterwashingit.”
HisthickshorthairwasnolongerdrippingbutstilldampwhenLysanderwastreatinghiswoundearlier.
“Iknow,”Lysandersaidthoughtfully.“Howaboutaquiltinsteadofanket?That’sasgenerousasIcan
<ol>
<li>be.</li>
</ol>
Josiahcouldn’tmaintainhiposureinthefreezingcold.He<b>was</b>almostgivingup.“Areyoureallygoingtomakemesleepinthehallway?”This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.
The quiethallwaymadehisshiveringvoicemorenoticeable,likelyduetothecold.
Seeinghisstate,Lysanderfeltherangersubsideabit.Asadoctor,shecouldn’tignoresomeoneabouttocatchacold.Sherelentedslightly.“So,whatdoyoupropose?”
“Ihavenowheretogo.Atleastletmestayforthenight.”Josiah’seyesshowednootheroption,havingruledoutallothers.
Lysandereyedhimsuspiciously.“First,IneedtomakesureIamnotlettingawolfin.”
Josiahwasalreadyshiveringfromthecold,hiplexionpaleashesaid,“IpromiseI won’tdoanythingtomakeyouufortable.”
Lysanderfrownedandscrutinizedhim.
Aftersomedeliberation,shefinallyopenedthedoorandwarned,“Comein,butyoucanonlysleeponthecouch.Ifyoudisagree,youcanstayoutside.<b>ying</b>thesympathycardwon’tworkon<b>me</b><b>.</b>”
Ifhetriedanything,shewouldn’thesitatetokick<b>him</b>outintothecoldnight.
<b>Josiah</b>slipped inside,gratefulforthewarmthofthe livingroom.
TheRagdollkitten,whohadbeenwatchingthmotionwithLysander,brushedaffectionatelyagainstJosiah’sleg.
LysanderdidnotintendtotreatJosiahasaguest.Shepointed tothelongcouchhehadsatonearlier.“Youcansleeptheretonight.Figureouthowtogetintomorrow.”
Tonight seemedparticrlycold.Standinginthefoyerwith Josiahforawhilehadchilledher.Leavinghimoutsidewasn’treallyanoption.
Josiahexaminedthecouch,noining.Hecedathrowpillowatoneendasamakeshiftpillow.JustashewasabouttoaskLysanderforaquilt,henoticedshehadalreadyretreatedtoherbedroom.
Clearly,shedidnotwanttospendevenaminutelongerwithhim.
Josiahknewhecouldn’taffordtoupsetLysanderagain.Ifhedid,hewoulddefinitelybekickedout.Butevenwiththebalconydoorclosedandthecouchnketpulledoverhim,hewasstillfreezing.
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TheRagdollkittencurledufortablyinWhiteCoat’sbed,givingasoft“meow,”seeminglymorecontentthanhewas.
Josiahwasatallman<b>,</b>soevenwhenhepushedthethrowpillowtothefarendofthesofa,hislegsstilldangledofftheedgeoncehydown.Asforthenketthatwasdrapedoverhim,itwashardlyworthmentioning.It<b>was</b>sothinthatitcouldn’tevenbeconsideredbetterthannothing.In termsoflength,ifitcoveredhisshoulders,hiskneeswouldbeexposed.
Thenightchillseepedinthroughthebalconywindowgaps,causinghimtojoltawakejustashewasfinallyonthevergeoffallingasleep.
Afterwhatseemedlikeernity,Josiahcouldn’tbearitanylonger.HedraggedhissorelegstoLysander’sbedroomdoor.Knockingonthedoor,heremindedher,“Lysander,yousaidyou’dgetmeaquilt.”
Hetriedthedoorknob,butitwaslockedfromtheinsideasexpected.
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