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“Sounds like my kind of punch.” I get a glass for both Maya and me, and we make the rounds.

“You guys look awesome!” Serena gushes. She’s dressed as some kind of hybrid zombie princess, and it’s a fun look.

“Thanks.” Maya grins. “You look pretty good too.”

“Well, I have my personal stylist to thank.” She winks and they chuckle.

“Did you do her costume?” I ask Maya as we move through the great room.

“I did hers, Jayne’s, Lacy’s, and Holly’s.”

I arch my brows. “When did you have time for all that?”

“I don’t need a lot of sleep. Sometimes I get up and work after you fall asleep.”

I blink. “You do?”

“But I come back to bed,” she adds hurriedly. “So we always wake up together.”

“Baby, why didn’t you say anything? I could have let you sleep longer.”

“I don’t mind. Really. I’ve done it for years. I’ll get inspiration in the middle of the night and can’t help myself.”

“Next time, let me know that you were up all night.”

“I still have to get up for work. Don’t worry, I play catch-up on my days off.”

“We’ll sleep in tomorrow. Coach knew better than to schedule practice the day after Halloween, especially since we’re traveling the next day.”

“Sleeping in sounds wonderful.”

“You know, it’s okay to let me take care of you sometimes,” I say carefully. “In the most general sense of the word. Like telling me that you need another thirty minutes of sleep or whatever the case may be.”

Her pretty face grows thoughtful. “I’ve been on my own for so long, I guess it isn’t in my nature to be needy.”

“You’d ask Reid for help, wouldn’t you?”

“I would if I needed to, but it’s rare that I do.”

“Weren’t you the one who told me that we need to be able to take care of each other?”

She dips her head. “You’re right—I did. And I promise, in the future I’ll try to learn to lean on you sometimes.”

“I want this to be a partnership, baby. It can’t be one way if it’s going to work.”

“You’re right.”

“Are you guys going to stand there and gaze into each other’s eyes all night or are we going to dance?” Blaze demands, moving between us and eyeing us.

Maya laughs. “Probably a little of both, but I’m up for dancing.”

Before I realize what’s happening, I’m dancing. With her. With Blaze. With half the team.

And we’re having a blast.

Drinking way too much for a night off before the beginning of a long road trip.

I’m just having too good of a time to care.