Page 159 of Hell and High Water

“You didn’t have to do that,” I start, unsure of what else to say.

“I know.”

“But you did.”

“Dicks to diamonds, Hellena, are you trying to thank me?”

“Not a fucking chance.” I smirk. “But you are welcome to stick around. At least for the night.”

“I promise I’m house trained.”

“Like a feral cat’s housetrained,” Gavin mutters, his lip curling in a mean half-smile.

Alaya hisses at him, but I step right up into her face, clapping my hands. “Don’t make me get the spray bottle.”

Alaya’s eyes go wide at my proximity to her space, my squared shoulders. “You threatening me, Michaels?”

“Nope. Just letting you know what the rules are. I can tolerate obnoxious bullshit, but no more flirting with Gavin. He’s spoken for.”

She inhales like she’s about to snap back but stops short. “Fair. Sorry for stepping on your toes.”

“You didn’t. I just don’t want you to keep making an ass of yourself.” I grin with honeyed sweetness. “Oh, and there’s like six showers, so you really didn’t have to wait.”

Alaya’s mouth drops open slightly.

“This one.” Alaya points at me as she saunters toward the hallway, giving Gavin an appraising look. “She’s a fucking lioness. Don’t fuck it up, Gatling.”

“Go shower, Foxglove. You stink,” Gavin grunts.

“Ostrich!” Tell shouts, suddenly sitting up, glaring after her. “That’s you! If I’m a giraffe, you’re an ostrich!”

This is going to be… interesting.

An hour later, I’m drying my hair and stepping out of the shower when I hear the thump-thump of a beat, laughter. Clinking glassware.

The hell?

Throwing on a robe, I head out onto the landing, loud music washing over me as I lean over the railing. Below me, the sight is snort-laugh worthy.

Ora and Alaya are dancing, holding glasses of wine. Gavin’s cooking up a storm, and Evan is setting the lights while Tell DJ’s, setting up his playlist on his laptop through the sound system.

“What is going on?”

“Get dressed! Or don’t. Either way, we’re having a celebration!” Ora’s halfway back to herself as she hollers up at me, raising her glass.

Evan bounds up the stairs, actually smiling at me. It’s more beautiful than anything I’ve seen today. Especially because he does it so infrequently.

“We all thought you deserved a little… merriment. And Ora needed cheering up. Gavin and I thought it would be a great way to celebrate a win, and her grandfather’s life.”

“That’s perfect. Thank you, Ev.” I pull him into me, pressing my barely covered chest to his, inhaling him before beckoning him into a deep, full kiss.

I’ve had far too few of those lately.

After barely extricating myself from Evan’s arms, I throw on some comfy pants and a shirt and join my friends downstairs.

The mood is a little strained at first, but I know this is exactly what we need. So I lean into it, help Gavin with filling wine glasses, drinking a few myself, and dancing with Evan, Tell, and Ora.

Alaya keeps her distance, surprisingly behaving herself.

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