Page 97 of Allegiant

I can’t help but giggle at that, at the confidence he has in my place in his life after these four days are up. To be honest, I like hearing how much he wants me. How much he wants to be a part of my future.

I’m just not sure I truly deserve it.

Even if I do…I won’t be allowed to keep him. Life will find a way to take him from me.

It always does.

“We have two more days and then I’m going back to my apartment, back to my life,” I remind him softly.

His eyes slam into mine. “We’ll see about that.”

I begin to object, but then I see it, a twinkling light flashing past and then a cascade of them. Falling stars take up the entire night sky.

My lips part and his do as well, the two of us watching the meteors crash into view. It’s overwhelming, reminding me of our place on Earth, how small and finite we all are.

“This view is amazing,” I breathe.

I turn to look at him and find him staring at me, his eyes hooded, his lips parted in an exhale.

“Yeah. It fucking is.”

25

ROWAN

“Your dog needs training,” Harley says as I watch Nugget grab onto his pant leg and tug. The two of us are relaxing in one of the many living rooms in this place. “This morning I found him running around with a pair of my socks. My favorite pair. And then he tried to swallow them. Whole.”

I scrunch up my nose as I take a sip of the tea Samson made me. I would pull Nugget off, but it will only result in him going at his pant leg even harder.

“I’m not sure he is trainable,” I confess. “The only one he obeys is Larry—and Dottie, but I think that’s because of all the treats she bribes him with—and I think Larry just scares him.”

Harley sighs and then reaches down and picks up Nugget, who simply barks once and then laps at his chin before starting to chew on the sleeve of his shirt. “He’s like a fucking baby goat.”

I reach over to rub his floppy ears. “A very cute baby goat.”

“He is cute.” Harley lifts him up and drops a kiss on his nose. “But we need to train him before he eats something important.” He turns to me suddenly with a grin. “Think we can train him to eat specific things?”

“Like what?”

“Well, Cade has terrible taste in music,” he says. “All nineties trash. He’s been collecting it on vinyl. Wonder if Nugget will take on a few of those?”

I wince. “I mean, probably? But I don’t think that’ll be good for his digestive system.”

“Sad times,” Harley says, and then hiccups. “Damn, that potion is still in my system.”

“Your dick any bigger?” I ask, just as Samson rounds the corner, his brow furrowed.

“Why you asking him about his dick?” Samson demands, hands on his hips, his mouth turned down in disapproval.

“He’s curious,” Harley says as Nugget starts to wiggle violently in Harley’s arms, trying to reach for Samson.

Samson glowers at him but takes Nugget from his brother’s arms. He automatically cuddles him in as Nugget yaps happily.

Meanwhile, I’m over here trying not to swoon at the sight.

“We’re going to train him.” Harley points at Nugget. “If he’s going to live here, he can’t be terrorizing everyone.”

“Good fucking luck with that,” Samson grumbles as Nugget sniffs his neck. “I’m going to my shed.”