"I'm kind of in a bad mood, Dahlia. I don't feel like trying things."

"No it's not the adventure I wanted to go on tonight it's something else. We can do that tomorrow."

"Oh so we're making plans now?"

"Yes."

"My my, how assertive." Roy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no. A broken nose hurts, Dahlia. And so does a bit of my dignity."

"I'm really sorry," Dahlia sighed.

"Not gonna lie, I'm a little worried he's gonna come back."

"And beat you up worse?"

"No, you."

"He thinks we slept together."

"And we sort of did."

"We literally just discussed this."

"That's why I'm worried."

"He's not gonna come back. I threatened to call the cops."

"That doesn't stop people," Roy insisted.

"Yeah, well, he's not an idiot."

"Um, you said yourself, beating up cripples and women is wrong. He beat up a cripple. And a woman. He's an idiot, Dahlia."

"Yeah..."

"Stay here. Just for tonight. Maybe longer, I don't know."

"You just want me here. Be honest."

"I dread the prospects of being alone."

"Your family?"

"They don't count. And I am worried about you. I don't trust William. And Dade is a terrible shooter."

"You are right about the terrible shooter part," Dahlia grinned.

"Please."

"Hmm."

"I'll make you dinner."

"It's too late for dinner."

"I'll let you sleep in my bed."

"Will you be joining me?"

"It's upstairs."

"Oh..."

"Yeah I live on the couch now."

"But you didn't want to be alone."

"We can't both fit on this couch."

"So sleep in your bed with me."

"Do you listen? It's upstairs."

"Right..." Dahlia stood up. "Come here." She stretched her arms out.

"Absolutely not," Roy shook his head.

"Come here," Dahlia insisted.

"You're tugging on my heartstrings, Dahlia."

"Let's go," she nodded.

Roy was nearly 6'5 standing. MacKenzie had no problem flinging him over her shoulder because that was her job. Alice made a fool out of both of them. Dahlia had to be at least a foot shorter than he was and was quite slender. It wouldn't be pretty.

"You said I could sleep in your bed and you don't wanna be alone. Let's go." Dahlia put her arms around Roy's chest and jerked him upright. She slowly lifted him off the couch and he put his arms around her neck, hands laced together in a death grip. "You're...heavy."

"This isn't the first time someone has done this."

Dahlia shuffled around the coffee table, nearly dropping Roy in the process.

"Oh, God..."

"Dahlia, just put me down, please..."

"No, I got this. Dade is drunk all the time. This is normal." She set Roy down on the third step to catch her breath. "See, we made it to the stairs."

"Yeah, and my bedroom is up the stairs and at the end of the hallway."

"Why don't you just have a little faith in me, Roy?"

"You make questionable decisions."

"So do you."

"That's fair."

Dahlia laced her arms around Roy, dragging him up several more steps. That was her newly found process. Several steps, and then a break to catch her breath. Roy's face was bright red. He prayed that Whit, if he was indeed upstairs, didn't hear anything. He would die if his brother saw him like this.

"We're almost there," Dahlia smiled.

"Great," Roy responded unenthusiastically.

Dahlia laughed when they reached the top. Roy sat cross legged.

"It was that easy."

"Really, Dahlia? It was that easy?"

"Be grateful," she scoffed.

She knelt down, steadying herself on the bannister. She squeaked when she nearly fell backwards.

"Shh."

"What?" Dahlia whispered.

Roy nodded to Whit's bedroom door.

Dahlia bit her lip. She shuffled down the hallway, dropping Roy at the end in front of the bedroom.

Whit opened his bedroom door. He peeked his head out and stared at the peculiar sight of Dahlia looking like a deer in headlights and Roy placed awkwardly in front of her. Whit looked extremely confused. Dahlia slowly opened the door. Roy wanted to die.

"Um..." Whit began. His brow creased. He shut the door to his room without a word.

Roy glared up at Dahlia. "Put me. On the bed. Please. Dahlia. Now. Thanks."

Dahlia blushed. She lifted him up one last time and basically threw him onto the bed. She quickly shut the door and bounced back next to him.

"You carry a lot of books?"

Dahlia smiled. "Quite a lot, and quite often."

"Can't wait to go back down..."

"Forget about that for awhile." Dahlia embraced Roy and breathed. "We're here, aren't we?"

"That's true," Roy said. He sighed deeply. "Oh, Dahlia. Whatever am I going to do with you?"

"There is one thing," she replied.