The bedroom door creaked open. Eloise looked up from her book, startled. Ainsley stood there, his face unreadable, a folded blanket in his arms. Without a word, he stepped in, laid the blanket on the floor beside the bed, and began unrolling it with deliberate care.
“What are you doing?” Eloise asked, her brow furrowing.
Ainsley lay down on the makeshift bed, turning his back to her.
“You're not allowed to sleep here,” she said in a cold and dispassionate voice. “Ainsley, go away!” she shouted, frustration bubbling over.
However, Ainsley sat up abruptly, glaring at her. “Just send me away tomorrow! I don’t care! But don’t think you can kick me out tonight!”
Eloise was taken aback. It was the first time eight-year-old Ainsley had raised his voice at her.
“You want to kick me out. You'
