Page 68 of Never Have I Ever

“I’m okay with that if you are. Or are you thinking I should head home?”

Coming toward me, he grasps my sides, then slides his hands to my lower back. “I’m not letting you go anywhere.”

“That’s called a hostage situation.”

“I’m okay with it. I’ll happily go down for it.”

Like champagne, a giggle bubbles up to the surface. “You’re ridiculous and—”

“And you’re madly in love with me like I am you?”

“Not even a question. Just facts.”

Another text causes us to look down at his phone again. “If I’m meeting your family, I should probably get dressed.” The release is slow, the grin still wide on his face while he watches me dig through my suitcase. “I don’t have anything I’d be comfortable wearing to meet your sister. The Nikki Faris, who’s a style icon as well as famous.”

His fingers fly across the screen, and then he looks up and pockets it away. “I told her tomorrow. I’m too tired for a deep conversation.”

I pull on a tank top and boxer shorts. “Thank you and noted.”

I was worried that our love bubble would burst once we left Deer Lake. It hasn’t. It’s moved with us. I’m feeling too at home in his place already. We eat tacos, queso, and chips in front of the TV in the living room, figure out the groceries I need to get for the menu I have planned, and then I fall asleep with my head on his lap.

It’s too comfortable. He’s too comfortable like I’ve known him forever.

Just after one in the morning, I’m tangled up in him in bed, my favorite place to be with Laird, when he asks, “Marina Westcott is your best friend?”

The TV lights up the room, and after my quick nap in the living room, I haven’t been able to fall asleep again. Pushing up, I lift my head off his chest. “Random.”

“You mentioned her being your family. I guess I just put two and two together when you said the Westcotts, referring to her brothers.”

Lying back down, I roll to my side to face him. “We grew up together.”

“She was there for you after the accident?”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for her. Well, and her husband. When being at home with my mother became too much, Marina and her husband took me in.”

“Cash Ryatt.” I nod as the cogs figuratively turn, judging by the distance in his eyes. I reach over and smooth his brows, hoping to ease the tension gathered there. He says, “I met them in Austin after the show.”

Nodding again as if it’s a skill I’ve honed, I reply, “That was the concert I was at and where I got my hat. Though unfortunately I don’t remember. I wish I did.”

His chest rises with a deep breath that he holds for a count as he stares at the ceiling. When he releases it long and slow, he turns to me. “I wish you did as well.”

I come closer, kissing his bicep. “Wouldn’t it have been amazing if we’d met?” I sigh with a smile, thinking about the chances of that and then me being here with him now. “We would have such a great story to tell.”

My smile is met with sadness. He slips his arm under me and says, “The best.” Leaning over, he kisses my head. “I’m going to get some sleep now. Sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams,” I reply, feeling like I said something wrong. I hate the way his moods shift with the tides. I’m not sure what I said that changed the temperature of the room. If I did, I’d know which landmines to avoid. Instead, I keep setting them off without any warning.

Morning brings a new beginning.

I yawn before reaching for Laird, but he’s not there.

I thought my eyes weren’t open. They are. It’s pitch black in this room.

Careful when I climb out of bed, I head to the bathroom. Since I’m there, I brush my teeth, wanting fresh breath when I attack him with kisses. I don’t worry about how I look since we’ll most likely end up right back in bed.

I somehow—coughsLairdcoughs—lost my tank top and shorts in the bed last night. We didn’t have sex, but we did get dirty. Dark becomes light as I pad down the hallway toward the living room. Giving him an excellent view as I stretch for him. “Good morning.”

It all happens so fast I don’t have time to react. “Oh shit,” he says, running for me like I’m about to be tackled.

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