Chapter 27
Ema's
I sat at the long dining table and looked down at my plate. I used my fork to push the last few bites of pasta around, watching the steam rise from the red sauce. Finally, I lifted a forkful to my mouth and ate. The sauce was warm and rich, and it felt good in my stomach. It was the kind of comfort that started in my mouth and spread slowly through my chest. It was strange to think about how something as simple as a hot meal could make this massive, cold mansion feel a little less intimidating.
Across the table from me, Derek sat very still. He didn't have a plate in front of him. Instead, he rested his chin against his knuckles and kept his elbow on the dark wood of the table. He wasn't eating anything at all. He was just watching me.
