Page 39 of Fragile

Downstairs, we find the hotel bar and order water and two coffees.

“Morning, sunshine,” I sing-song, spotting a very hungover looking Indie walking toward us.

“Ugh, don’t,” she mumbles, grabbing my glass of water and chugging it. “How are you so chipper?”

“Good night’s sleep,” I say casually, but Indie narrows her eyes at me. She glances between me and Miles, her eyebrows raising slightly.

“Uh-huh,” she says, a knowing smirk forming. “What time does the bus leave?”

“In an hour,” Seb says, coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.

“Let’s go eat before I drag you back upstairs,” Seb says to Indie, but Miles and I both hear it because my brother is as subtle as a steam train.

“Dude, your sister heard that.”

“I don’t ever need to hear it again, either.” I shudder.

Seb looks sheepishly over at us both. “Sorry, sis.”

I roll my eyes, crossing my arms. “Yeah, well, you’re not sorry enough.”

Miles smirks, leaning in. “This is why I’m glad I’m an only child.” I can’t help but steal a glance at his lips when I notice he’s already doing the same thing to me. Our eyes hold for a beat, Miles’s hand slipping under the table to rest on my thigh. And then Seb laughs, breaking the spell, reminding us that he has no idea what’s going on between us. He doesn’t move his hand, though, and it grounds me, stops me from completely freaking out.

Miles manages to turn away, making small talk with my brother again, but not Indie. My best friend’s narrowed eyes are locked on mine, as though she’s trying to telepathically communicate. Something tells me her intuition has peaked and she knows that more happened between Miles and me. I just hope she doesn’t say anything to Seb. Not yet.

Chapter eighteen

Miles

The Hangout isn’t aplace I’ve spent much time outside of parties. Occasionally, we’ll break out the Xbox. Which is what Hudson and I found ourselves agreeing to do about an hour ago. It’s after classes and there’s no practice tonight so we’ve got a rare night off. My immediate thought was to ask Quinn to my dorm, but then I remembered she volunteers at the women’s shelter in town on Wednesday evenings. So here I am, getting beat at a fucking game ofCall of Duty.

“Dude, you’re not even trying to watch my six. Come on!” Hudson wails.

“My joystick keeps sticking. It won’t let me fucking shoot!” I shout back.

When you’re playing video games, it doesn’t matter if you’re sitting shoulder to shoulder, if you aren’t shouting at each other, it’s not as fun.

“Fuck!” Hudson curses, just as we both lose the game again. “I give up.” The controller hits the coffee table with a thud and Hudson slumps back into the couch.

“We can play another night,” I suggest.

Hudson huffs and we sit in comfortable silence, scrolling our phones for a second, when a text from Quinn comes through, telling me she’s finished at the shelter and will be getting the bus back soon. This kind of text isn’t new for us, since she usually lets me know where she’s going and if she’s safe. But now I feel a surge of something else too alongside our friendship, and I’m trying to come to terms with it.

I’m also desperately trying to take things slow with her because I refuse to mess this up.

With Seb being her brother and my best friend, talking to him about it is out of the question. He’s way too protective, and I’m not ready to deal with the fallout that could bring. Hudson, on the other hand, might be a wild card, but he’s my best option right now. He and Quinn are friends too, and maybe he can give me some insight without blowing everything up. I glance over at the man in question, watching the way he smirks at whatever he’s seeing on his phone, wondering if I can trust him to keep this between us. Eh, fuck it. I need to talk to someone before I explode.

“So, can I ask you something?”

“Oh, shit.” Glancing at me with an odd expression, he sits up straighter, dropping his phone to his lap. “Is this like a bro-to-bro thing? Are you… Do you need advice?”

I run my hand down my face. “Yeah, I need advice.” I then pin him with a stern stare, pointing my finger at his face. “But you dare tell a soul, and I will end you.”

“You arecoming to me for advice!” he yelps, practically jumping from the couch. “Oh my god, fuck. This never happens. Well, I’m your guy, the best man for the job.” He brushes his hair from his face and looks at me with a dopey grin. “Hudson Parker – Advice Guru. And to think you’re the one who started it all.”

My eyes roll back in my head. “You about done?”

“I’m so excited.” Clearing his throat, he schools his expression. “Hit me with it.”

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