Chapter 152

• It has been two weeks since everything began to unfold, and I must admit that organizing all the details at the other safe houses took far longer than anyone could have anticipated. In a strange way, I'm somewhat grateful for the delay. This unexpected pause has provided Xavier and me with a precious opportunity—a chance to simply exist and enjoy each other's company, free from any external distractions. I think of it as a sort of honeymoon, and what a honeymoon it has been.
• Just the thought of everything we've shared—the locations, the frequency, the sheer passion—has me feeling flustered all over again. Perhaps it's also the relentless sun beating down on us as I walk beside Leonard that makes it an inconvenient time for indulging in daydreams about the intimate moments shared with my mate during these two weeks while we awaited the arrangements to be finalized.
• As I walk with my younger brother—though I realize he's not so young anymore, having shot up past my height in mere months—I notice how he's undergone a remarkable transformation. He seems to stand taller, prouder, and self-assured, having matured during my absence and even more within this brief time apart from our father. I can't shake the feeling that the distance from our father has benefited him immensely, but there's also a deeper weight in his eyes, one that hints at a more serious, mature demeanor—likely due to the trauma he endured with Bell. The horrors inflicted upon her were something he had to witness, and he played a pivotal role in aiding her recovery, just as Xavier had done for me, alongside Steve.