Jessie was lying in bed, trying to get to sleep when Kyle came quietly into the room. She turned her face into the pillow to hide her tears.
Kyle sat on the side of her bed and put his hand on her shoulder, "Jessi, I'm so sorry."
"Did Nicole tell you?"
"Lori did," Kyle said. "I'm sorry I wasn't home when you needed me. I spent the evening at Latnok."
"I still have nightmares about the man in the woods," Jessi said. "I almost killed another person."
Kyle stroked her face, "You didn't do it. You stopped yourself. It's all right."
She looked up at him and smiled a little, "I feel better when you touch me. That makes everything all right."
He sat with her for a moment, stroking her hair, then went around the bed and climbed into it stretching out next to her back, holding her like they had done the night when he had told her about finding Sarah's ring. It had been her 'safest and happiest' memory. He could feel her relax and some of the anguish leave her.
They lay together for some time without speaking, finally, Jessi said, in a quiet voice, "Thank you, Kyle. I think I can sleep now."
Kyle offered, "I can stay longer."
Jessi said reluctantly, "You don't have to. I don't want you to get in trouble."
I had spent the night at Latnok to avoid thinking about Jessi being on another date with Raymond, feeling her slipping away from me. It felt wrong to be glad that she was not going to be dating him anymore, but I was. Jessi was so sad though, I wanted to take the pain away and help her feel better. By holding her I had been able to do that. When she thanked me and told me I could go, I realized that holding her was making me feel better as well and that I didn't want to go.
Kyle lay motionless for a while longer and then said, "Jessi, I don't want to go. Will you let me stay?"
Jessi said, "Of course I will. You can stay as long as you want." She pressed back against him. They drifted off to sleep.