He flinches. "So that's what it is? You're scared I'll leave you?"
"I'm not scared." I am. I don't want to be alone. "I'm just preparing for the inevitable."
"Don't lie to me, AJ." Spaghetti forgotten, he prowls towards me. "I don't want to leave any more than you do, okay? All the power is in your hands now. All you need to do is promise not to send me away."
That spaghetti will burn. "How would I send you away?"
"You could tell the police about me. Tell them I'm no more an insomniac as you are blonde." I still, and he grins. "You can't do that, can you? Well then don't expect me to leave Beachbay anytime soon. I'll leave this place and Deónne's if you don't want me here—"
A scoff escapes me. As if there'd ever be a time I wouldn't want him here.
"—but I'm not leaving Beachbay. I
