Chapter 2021


    ?


    From day one, it was crystal clear: you''ve got to establish where you stand in the family pecking order.


    Hertha wasn''t having any of it, forcefully shrugging off ric''s arm: "Back off! You''ve got some nerve, thinking you can just pin me down?"


    ric, who was deep in slumber, was jolted awake by Hertha''s forceful shove. Groggy and disoriented, he barely opened his eyes to see Hertha ring at him, visibly annoyed.


    Rubbing his eyes, he asked with concern, "What''s wrong?"


    "What''s wrong?" Hertha replied, her brows furrowed in anger. "Why on earth are you sleeping with your entire arm over me?"


    ric was puzzled and exined, "I''ve got to hold you."


    "And why is that?" Hertha shot back.


    "Sleeping next to the person you love means you gotta hold them close, keep warm, and feel blissful," ric reasoned as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    Isn''t that the unspoken understanding between couples? Even without saying it, the other person should just get it. But with Hertha, it was as if she was clueless about affection, asking such a childish question.


    His words struck a chord with Hertha; ric actually called her his beloved. That sentiment warmed the depths of her heart. Just yesterday, she had denied to her mother that ric had feelings for her. Today, she heard him dere his love. It dissolved any lingering doubts in Hertha''s heart, clearing the skies.


    Waking up to ric''s presence was


    genuinely delightful. She felt so


    happy she almostughed, but


    el


    ric was still there, and she couldn''t let him see her amusement. Otherwise, he''d have a field day.


    Sheposed herself, feigning seriousness, "You can hold me all you want, but why dump the weight of your entire arm on me? I was almost crushed, did you know?"


    ric, still bleary-eyed, scratched the back of his head, "Got it, Ick experience; it won''t happen again."


    Saying that, he pulled the covers


    bet


    over andy down again. Just as he settled, Hertha yanked the nkets away, and a cool morning breeze swept in, making ric shiver.


    “Come on, let''s not fuss, let''s sleep a bit more," ric coaxed her with a good-natured tone.


    "What time do you think it is? Still sleep?" Hertha questioned.


    ric yawned, "I put in some effortst night, was up half the night. I''m almost running on empty here, need to rest up."


    Hertha had almost forgotten about


    last night but ric''s words brought


    back a flood of memories of his tireless efforts and how much she had clung to him. Just the thought


    made her cheeks flush with warmth.


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    In a yful huff, Hertha gave him a light smack, "Looks like you''re getting old, not as spry as you used to be."


    ric''s tired nerves were suddenly sparked by herment. "Old and not spry, eh?"


    He flipped over, pinning her beneath him, and said with a mischievous grin, "Let me show you just how ''not spry'' I really am."