Page 59 of Hard to Take

I can’t go another day thinking I could lose her.

In my bed.

In my home.

In my heart.

I glance toward the door. “I should get back to the guest room.”

“My mom will be up soon but Jay sleeps like the dead.”

“I know. One time when we had adjoining rooms on the road, Rookie and I broke in. We gave him an entire neck tattoo with henna before he woke up.”

She laughs silently, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

I pull on the borrowed pajamas as she slides out of bed.

A sound down the hall makes us both glance toward the door. Brooke tiptoes across to crack it.

“Waffles is sleeping in the middle of the hall,” she murmurs.

“Shit,” I curse softly.

“Don’t worry. No one else is up.” Brooke returns to the window and opens the curtains. The bright morning light dances on her hair.

“Storm’s over,” I comment as I straighten, adjusting my pajama pants.

She turns back to me.

“Hope so.”

* * *

Jay: Merry Christmas Kodiak Fam.

Clay: Let’s get a win today.

Rookie: Is there any doubt?

Atlas: Saw you drinking last night so I’d say so.

Rookie: Psssh. It was soda.

Miles: I’m expecting to see a solid cheering section.

Clay: Nova’ll be there, and Mari.

Nova: I have the best feeling about this, you guys!

Rookie: Brooke going?

Miles: Yeah.

* * *

I’m still hoping me responding to Rookie’s question wasn’t weird while I make us both coffees.

After having breakfast at her parents’ place, we drove back to my place in the Range Rover.

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