Page 74 of Daydream

I’ve never heard you say that.

I say it all the time

No you don’t. You told me to stay toxic.

As a test and you passed by being your nontoxic self

Just talk to her, Hen. You’ll work it out.

Okay. Thanks JJ.

You’re welcome, brother.

Dare I ask how hockey is going?

Okay so you’re gonna leave me on read

I see how it is

It’s a good job I love you

Love you, too, J

I feel a lot better when I lock my phone and slip it back into my pocket. Beside me, Halle has fallen asleep, and I let Aurora put on one more movie before I admit defeat and carry Halle to bed. She doesn’t even wake up when I lose my grip on her because of these ridiculous satin pajamas we’re both wearing and accidentally drop her onto the bed. She’s definitely breathing—I’ve checked twice.

As soon as I climb in beside her, she thankfully shows some sign of life by rolling over to lie on my chest and put her thigh across me like she always does. I brush her hair from her face and she hums happily, her eyes opening slowly. “Why are you so tired?”

“Up late. Busy day. Are we in our room?” she mumbles.

“No. You’re trying to straddle me in the lounge in front of everyone.”

It’s like I’ve doused her in cold water; her eyes snap open and she pushes herself up with her elbow to look around the room. “You’re an asshole,” she says, sinking back down to lie on my chest. “That’s one way to wake me up.”

“Do you want to go back out there? You slept through the end ofLegally BlondeandCruel Intentions, but I think they’re about to putJust Like Heavenon. Aurora really likes old Reese Witherspoon movies.”

Halle yawns and shakes her head. “I’m happy here with you. On our own. In this huge bed.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?” She’s staring up at me with anticipation. I drag my thumb across her bottom lip and watch her breathing slow. I lean in and she lifts her head to kiss me gently.

“I wouldn’t know how to seduce you,” she says. I think about what she said earlier about inexperience.

“When our friends aren’t on the other side of the door, I’ll let you practice as much as you like.”

“Myhero.” She looks up, grinning, but I can tell how tired she is when she immediately lies back down. “Do you think Aurora is enjoying her birthday sleepover?”

“She said it’s the best sleepover she’s ever been to. What about you? Where does it rank?”

Halle cuddles into me more, moving her head onto my bicep so she can look at me while we talk. “I’ve never been to a sleep-over.”

“I am so good at giving you new experiences.” I tuck one of my hands behind my head to give her a better place to put her head and let my free hand rest on her thigh. “I wasn’t allowed to go to them, either. I didn’t care, though. I didn’t want to sleep in someone else’s house.”

“Uh, I think you’ll find I planned this, so I gave myself the experience. And it wasn’t that I wasn’t allowed, I just didn’t have any friends growing up other than Will. Grayson went to sleepovers all the time. Gigi does, too, but now that I’m saying it out loud I’m questioning whether she’s going where she says she’s going after her recent performance.”

“Your family makes me happy I’m an only child,” I say. “I don’t have it in me to look after so many people.”

“Surely being the captain of a sports team is like having tons of brothers? And they’re not bad. I just only ever complain about them. I should talk about when they’re nice to me more.”

“It’s more like having a farm next to a highway and all the animals keep escaping.” I love the feeling of her body on mine when she laughs at something I’ve said. Even in the dimly lit room, I can tell she’s looking at me like I’m the funniest person she’s ever met. “Tell me something nice your family has done for you recently.”

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