Page 62 of Hell and High Water

“When the time comes, you can't be afraid to make your move, though. You're way faster than I am. You just need timing and the right moves.”

Gavin loops an arm through mine, nearly snags me in a choke hold. Wedging my hand between us, I thrust him back, twisting away, putting me behind him, my arm hooking around his throat.

“There! See.” He taps my forearm, conceding. “The same goes for Hellena. You need to be willing to make the move, get in close when it’s time. Don’t back down. Apologize. Tell her how you feel.”

“So it’s life lessons now, too?”

“It’s what you need to fucking hear!”

“And if I don’t want to hear it?” I snag him again, locking my arm and tugging back this time, engaging the choke hold.

“I don't give a damn what you don’t want to hear!” he growls, gripping my arm and lurching forward. I realize my mistake instantly.

Right before he sends me flipping over his head and slamming down into the grass.

“Oof!” Stars explode in my head.

Leaning down over me, Gavin locks eyes with me. “It's not for your benefit. It's for hers.”

He's right.

And the fact that he cares more about her feelings than mine, or his own, puts me to shame. Sitting up, I catch my breath, looking up as he joins me, passing me another glass of scotch from inside.

We sit like that in the moonlight for a while, quiet.

I break the silence. “Do you ever think about…”

“About…? Are you hitting on me now?”

“No, no. Maybe a little.” I shoulder check him lightly. “I mean… do you ever think about us being with Hellena…?” I let the sentence fade off, tilting my head suggestively.

“Oh. Oh! Well, yeah. I mean, I'm not against it.”

We both process the idea for a few moments, chuckling as we down the last of the whiskey.

“I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” I mutter softly, smiling.

“Likewise.”

“I mean, if she's down for it.”

“Of course!”

A shuffle off in the darkness has us both shooting to our feet right before the soft beep tings off in the house.

“Perimeter alarm!” Gavin rasps in a hoarse whisper.

He’s back in a flash, passing me a gun.

“How do you do that?” I hiss.

“What?”

“It’s like you have guns hidden everywhere.”

“I do have guns hidden everywhere.” He growls noncommittally, taking off into the woods.

We look insane, two drunken, sweaty, shirtless, bruised and scraped madmen running off into the woods wielding guns.

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