Page 77 of Close to Heaven

“Turkey makes me tired.”

“It’s the tryptophan,” Avery stated.

“Well, whatever it is, I’m ready for bed.”

“Now who’s the lame one?” Jax teased.

Dakota hopped up and hugged Cody goodbye. “Love you,” she said.

“Love you too, sis.”

Avery started to rise too, but Cody leaned down and gave her a brief hug. “Take care of that ankle,” he said.

Jax stood and walked his brother to the door. He held out his hand, but instead of shaking it, Cody pulled him in for a hug. “Take good care of her,” he whispered. Then he turned and sailed out the door.

Shortly after Cody left, Avery said, “I should probably get going too.”

“What? No!” whined Dakota.

Jax bit his tongue. He would have loved for her to stick around, but it would probably be better if she didn’t. Sitting beside her without being able to touch her had been tortuous. He didn’t know how much more he could take.

“It’s been a long day, and I’m getting tired too,” Avery said.

“Why don’t you sleep over?” Dakota suggested, her eyes dancing with excitement.

“Um…I don’t have any pajamas,” Avery said, looking to Jax for help.

Before he could interject, Dakota said, “I always keep an extra set here. You can just borrow those.”

Jax panicked, wondering what Avery had done with Dakota’s pajamas after she’d worn them last night.

Avery looked panicked too.

“Avery probably wants to sleep in her own bed,” Jax said.

“The bed in the spare room is super comfortable, and I can take the couch,” Dakota offered. “Please. I’ve really missed having you as my roommate.”

“Jax will be here,” Avery protested.

“Some roommate, he is—he snores! Besides, you have the day off tomorrow, right? So, you can sleep in, and then we can make breakfast together.”

Jax had known his sister to be persuasive, but tonight she seemed relentless. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was trying to push him and Avery together. Why would she do that, though? Besides, nothing could happen between them with Dakota in the same house.

“I wouldn’t want to put Jax out,” Avery said, obviously grasping at straws.

“You don’t mind, do you, Jax?”

He felt trapped. The more he protested, the more suspicious Dakota might become, if she wasn’t already.

“It’s fine with me if she wants to stay,” he finally said.

“Great!” Dakota said. Then she tugged on Avery’s hand. “Let’s go upstairs and find you those pajamas.”

Avery shot him a nervous glance as Dakota led her toward the stairs.

He shrugged because what else could he do? Dakota was still talking a mile a minute as the women disappeared upstairs. Once he heard a door shut, he turned to Smoky, who was lying in his cozy bed in front of the fireplace.

“What do you think, buddy? Are we in trouble or what?”

Smoky lifted his head in acknowledgment and then tucked it between his paws.

This was going to be a long night…