Brodi watched the fire a moment or two longer after Zoe left, then after returning the mugs to the kitchen, went upstairs to Elise's room. He almost knocked, then remembered that this was where he was temporarily staying. He fished out the extra key he'd been given and quietly opened the door.
Elise was still sleeping, so e slipped off his shoes and shirt and crawled under the blankets beside her. Slowly he draped an arm over her, and she turned suddenly and curled into him.
"Shhh." He whispered. "it's just me."
Elise opened her eyes and smiled at him, then curled into him and went back to sleep. Brodi sighed happily and pulled Elise closer to him. As he drifted off to sleep, he realized with relief that this was one time he wasn't going to have a problem being in the now. He didn't want to think about this afternoon, yesterday, ten years ago. All that mattered was this moment, with this woman next to him.
With these thoughts he got lost in his breath, her breath, her heartbeat. And finally, for the first time in months, he was able to enter a peaceful sleep.