Page 95 of The Love You Win

“Why the hell not?” he asks. “I’ve got the room, and you need a place to stay. I’m gone half of the time, anyway, so you’d be doing me a favor. You can grab my mail and shit and make sure the place doesn’t burn down when I’m out of town.”

“Griffin.” Mira shakes her head. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Bullshit, Mira. I know exactly what I’m asking. I also know you’re being a stubborn ass.”

Bash pinches the bridge of his nose. Logan’s attention pings between my sister and my best friend.

“Come on, Mir. We’re friends. It would be fun, and you wouldn’t even need to pay me rent. I own the place outright, so it’s not like I need the money.”

Narrowing my eyes, I study my best friend. His typical flippant attitude is nowhere to be found. His expression is determined. Serious. Maybe my sister living with him wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

“I think it sounds like a great idea,” Isla offers. Her words are soft, but everyone gives her their attention. “Breakups suck, Mira. It would be nice to have a friend around to cheer you up when you need it. Especially one that will be gone sometimes so you can have the place to yourself occasionally.”

“See?” Griffin smiles widely. “If Isla thinks it’s a good idea, it is.”

My sister’s lip twitches with a suppressed smile. “If we do this, there will have to be rules, Wright. No walking around naked or banging your puck bunnies on the couch.”

Griffin holds a hand to his chest. “I’m wounded that you think so little of me.”

“And you definitely won’t touch my sister,” I add. “Or I’ll kick your ass. I don’t care if you are my best friend. Keep your diseased dick to yourself.”

“It’s not diseased,” Wright growls. “He’s perfectly healthy.”

Mira rolls her eyes, but I can see her caving. She’s going to agree to move in with him. Hopefully it’s not a huge mistake. “You’re serious about this?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“All right. I’ll move in with you. But I’m paying rent.”

Griffin runs a hand through his blond hair as a smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

Mira turns to my girlfriend. Most of the tension I’ve seen plaguing her since I picked her up at the airport has disappeared. “Looks like we’re going to have plenty of time to establish our new bestie status.”

Isla laughs. She looks so happy. “Can’t wait.”

With Mira’s living situation settled, we sit there for hours, laughing, talking, and eating. Our server doesn’t seem to mind because she knows we’ll tip well—we always do—and because she’s spent the last fifteen minutes perched on Logan’s lap.

It’s two a.m. by the time we settle up and leave, and Isla’s hardly able to keep her eyes open. She’s so tired she barely protests when I scoop her up in my arms.

“I can walk,” she mumbles. The guys chuckle.

“I know, baby, but I want to carry you. Don’t spoil my fun.”

She presses her face into my neck and huffs out a silent puff of laughter. “Bossy.”

“Stay at my place?”

“Oh, yes, please stay, Isla. It’ll be like a sleepover,” Mira says. “We can make a big breakfast in the morning and hang out. Please say yes.”

“How do you have so much energy?” Isla asks Mira, lifting her head from my chest to look at my sister.

Mira shrugs. “I’m not a teacher, so I don’t have to get up as early as you.”

“Shit.” Isla winces. “I have school tomorrow. I’m going to be so tired.”

My sister and I share a grimace. I completely forgot it was a school night for Isla. “Is your car at your place?”

She nods. “I kinda figured we’d end up driving together, so Mira and I took an Uber to the arena.”

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