While You're Awake by Amber Stokes Read Free Book Online Page A

couldn’t be snuffed out by darkness unless one chose it.
    He didn’t know how long
he’d been crying into his comforter before he heard the clack of nails on the
kitchen floor and the padding of paws on the carpet. Moon came and rested his
heavy head on Keegan’s shoulder until Keegan turned and buried his face into
his friend’s fur. Just as the dog had done since the very first day Keegan’s
parents had bought the two puppies, he provided a loyal presence. A blessed
reminder that Keegan wasn’t alone.
    Moon followed Keegan onto
the bed, and Keegan drifted into a nightmare-free sleep. He knew better than
anyone that German shepherds made the best kind of guard dog.
    ∞∞∞
    Ava glanced up from her
laptop when she heard a knock at the door. Her brow furrowed as she puzzled
over who it could be. The only person who came to visit her was Keegan. But
today was Sunday.
    Ava opened the door,
blinking her bleary eyes at the twilight sky casting Keegan in a golden glow.
    “Got off work an hour
early.” He shrugged. “I know Sunday isn’t one of our usual walking days, but do
you want to take a walk with me?”
    She leaned against the
doorjamb, glancing back briefly at her laptop and the manuscript she’d been
editing. She had made good progress today, despite the sleepless night and the
late-morning church service. And a walk in the fresh air sounded nice.
    Actually, a walk with
Keegan in the fresh air sounded nice.
    “Are Sun and Moon coming
with us?”
    She caught Keegan’s
smile, although he seemed less vibrant today. The light never left him, though.
His thoughtful attitude just brought him from noonday shine to twilight glow.
    “I see how it is. You
only want me for my dogs now.”
    The words startled Ava.
Not because he was flirting—which wasn’t such a rare thing—but because it was
true. She did want him. But not for his dogs. For his joy. His kindness.
His care.
    She sucked in a breath of
the lukewarm evening air. “Let me just save my work and grab a light sweater.”
    After a moment, Ava rejoined
Keegan on the stoop, closing the door behind her and stuffing her hands in her
sweater pockets. “Lead the way.”
    They walked through the
tall grass that reached halfway up their shins. Keegan stared down at it as
they forged a path. “You know, this really ought to be mowed.”
    “Yeah.” Ava understood
that; she just didn’t want to do anything about it. That didn’t make her lazy,
right? It’s not as if she didn’t have other things to do. More important things
than mowing grass, certainly.
    “I’ll bring my dad’s
riding mower next Saturday. If that’s all right with you.”
    Just because Ava didn’t
want to do it didn’t mean poor Keegan had to. She pulled a hand out of her
pocket and placed her fingers on his bare arm. “That’s kind of you to offer,
but you don’t have to do that. I’m just being lazy.” There. She admitted it.
    He grinned. “Well, we’re
all prone to be that way now and then. And anyone would get overwhelmed by this
crazy field.”
    “Exactly. I can’t let you
mow it all by yourself.” Before she could stuff her hand back into her pocket,
Keegan captured her fingers and entwined them with his own.
    “Then we’ll take turns.”
    She scoffed, but a smile
rose up to replace the fake scowl. “I don’t know how to use a riding mower.”
    He squeezed her fingers.
“Then I’ll teach you.”
    Well, she wouldn’t object
to that.
    They walked a short ways
together, closer to the woods that edged the property around the rental home.
The more time they spent holding hands, the more Ava could feel this strong
sensation pulling her closer to Keegan. Like the moon tugging on the ocean or
the sun coaxing stems from the ground. She bit her lip as she wondered what
Keegan would do if she gave in and rested her head on his shoulder.
    And then he released her
hand, and she felt the loss like unsaved work when her computer chose to
restart unexpectedly.
    Until his arm