Nestled in his embrace, Josie Quinn felt his strong arms around her. "As long as you don't hurt me," she said instinctively, "I will never push you away."
The tension that had gripped her all night suddenly eased.
The cold, dark cloud that had settled in her heart since Felix Fields's appearance seemed to be mostly driven away by that firm promise.
"Alright." His voice was low, yet it held an unprecedented lightness and warmth.
Josie Quinn quickly patted him. "You should get some sleep."
Cole finally relaxed and, lying down in his sleeping bag, fell into a deep sleep.
After quietly getting herself ready, Josie Quinn sat silently by the door.
Her water bottle was placed by the embers of the fire—clearly, Cole had put it there to ensure she could have a sip of warm water when she woke up.
She lifted the bottle, and as the warm water went down her throat, a comforting feeling spread through her.
