Page 32

“It’s stupid,” Blaire says quickly. “I probably shouldn’t have called.”

“Hey,” I say quickly, sitting up against the headboard and rubbing at my eyes. An arm reaches out, flinging itself across my middle. I run my fingers over Maverick’s hand, my stomach swirling with butterflies. “Don’t do that, Blaire. You know you can call me for anything, even if it’s something small.”

“Right,” she says softly. “I had a nightmare and I couldn’t go back to sleep. It was silly. One of those anxious dreams where everything just kept going wrong. I couldn’t get a hold of you no matter how many times I tried calling so I figured I would call you now that I’m awake to prove I can get to you.”

I let out a long breath. Maverick stirs, finally looking up at me, his brows wrinkled. “I’m glad you called me. There’s nothing in this world that could keep me from getting to you or Bax.”

“I know that,” Blaire says. “Well, my brain knows that but my body is still in fight or flight,” she confesses with a snort.

“Are Mom and Dad there?”

“No,” she whispers, “they’ve been gone a while this time. I haven’t heard from either of them.”

“Okay. That’s okay. Don’t worry about that. Why don’t you tell me how school is going?” I look down at Maverick who’s staring up at me. I whisper, “Do you want me to leave the room so you can sleep?”

“No. Please stay.”

“Okay.”

“School is good,” Blaire is saying, “same old, same old. I do have some good news though. I’ve made varsity on my volleyball team.”

I can’t help but grin, pride overwhelming inside my chest. “That’s amazing news! Jesus, Blaire! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It was on my to-do list,” she says with a small chuckle. “Also, umm, if you’re not busy on Friday, could you drive down? We’re having parents’ night.”

“I’ll be there,” I say right away. I’ll have to rent a car or borrow someone else’s but that’s okay. I have time to figure it out before Friday night. “I wouldn’t miss it even if my entire school was on fire. Fuck, Blaire. I am so freaking proud of you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, whatever. Don’t be all embarrassing.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I say right away.

After that, Blaire starts to yawn. I finish up the call and remind her that I love her and I’ll see her on Friday.

“You can borrow my car,” Maverick says through a yawn.

“What?”

“Friday,” he says, snuggled against me. “You can borrow my car to see the twins.”

I set my phone down and slide back down into the bed, resting my head on the pillow. Maverick crawls closer, resting his head on my chest.

“Come with me.”

Maverick hums. “Okay.”

Everything about this is so new yet somehow it feels so right. He fits against me perfectly. Last night was everything I didn’t know I needed when it came to being physical with someone.

We fit.

We fit so well it’s a little terrifying because now that I know how fucking good it can be, it’s going to hurt if we can’t have this for some reason. It’ll hurt when I have to go back home to my siblings. It’ll hurt when Maverick realizes I’m a mess and he can do so much better than someone like me.

I don’t even have a name for what we are. Does it need a name? Does it need a label when it feels so right to sink into his embrace?

With a deep sigh, I close my eyes and do my best to fall back asleep.

“Thane!”

I stumble as I walk, freezing at my name being called. Looking over my shoulder, I see Tess running towards me.