The Bound Between Us

Chapter 912

Anastasia sat on the hardwood floor, hugging her knees, as time slipped by in slow, silent drops.

Her legs were numb, but the weight in her chest had finally started to ease. The storm inside her was quieting, little by little.

Suddenly, a flash of light flickered across the window. Fireworks?

Who on earth sets off fireworks this late?

Curiosity pulled her to her feet. She crept over to the window and peeked out- then nearly doubled over with laughter.

There, in the backyard, was Herman, waddling around in a fat, puffy orange mascot suit. He looked like a giant tangerine come to life, straight out of a cartoon. In each hand, he clutched a sparkler, waving them around and sending showers of sparks into the night.

He glanced up, caught her watching, and lit up with the goofiest, brightest grin.

As the last sparkler fizzled out, Herman-still in his absurd orange getup-broke into a dance. Not just any dance, either: this was full-on preschooler mode. He made heart shapes with his arms, spun in wobbly circles, kicked his feet, flapped his arms, and wiggled his behind.

Anastasia had never seen this side of him. She felt her throat close up, her eyes sting. This was all for her-just to make her smile.

Then, out of nowhere, Herman tripped and toppled over. Anastasia's heart jumped, but before she could even call out, he'd tucked his arms and legs inside the suit, turning himself into a perfect, oversized orange. And then—he started rolling around the grass.

She let out a snort, then burst into helpless laughter, tears streaming down her face.

Herman came to a stop, sprawled on the lawn with his limbs sticking out. If she squinted, he looked more like a turtle than the CEO of a tech company.

poses, flapping his

the middle of the night, making

laughing, it was all

went completely still. From Anastasia's window, it looked

Curiosity won out. She hurried downstairs and out the door, crouching beside

squishy surface.

a magician, Herman's head popped out of the top, a flower between his teeth.

he puffed out his cheeks and, with a silly burp, spat out a handful of colorful jelly

poked at a jelly bean, grinning. "Seriously, Herman? Since when

a jelly bean-yep, it was real. "Are you secretly a

around in a giant orange suit, and

since everything changed. This was the first time she'd genuinely smiled,

moment, the pain faded. All that

finally wriggled out of the costume and plopped down

looking more like a giant teddy bear than a high-powered

soft and full of mischief. "This is my secret weapon. Can't let it out of the bag for just anyone. From now o Pon, it's only for you.

her heart melt, bit by

help but laugh. "Okay, pulling a flower out

one thing; but how'd you

Did you eat a