Page 105 of If You Need Me

I let my gaze trace her naked body. “Do you have any idea how hot you are? The idea of you fucking me…” I roll on top of her and fit myself between her thighs. “Yeah. I’m into it.”

CHAPTER 35

HEMI

“Have you ever slept on a twin bed before?” Hammer asks.

“At dance camp we slept four to a room and had twin bunk beds,” Tally says.

“Of course you went to dance camp.” Rix pats her shoulder, smiling.

Tally props her fists on her hips. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“That none of us are surprised you went to dance camp,” Dred says. “How old were you?”

“I went every summer until I aged out at sixteen. I had my first kiss there.” She tosses her purse on the bed and surveys the room. “I think my walk-in closet is bigger than this entire space.” She cringes. “Oh, ew. I sound like a spoiled brat. I should not repeat that to anyone outside of this room.”

Hammer gives her a side hug. “I get it. My room in my off-campus apartment was about the same size as this. It took a little getting used to, but I promise we’ll make it yours, and it’ll feel like home.”

“Remember the two-bedroom apartment we lived in during second year?” Essie says to Rix.

“Two bedroom was a stretch. The twin bed took up ninetypercent of one room,” Rix says with a smile. “But it was ours and it was fun. Minus the snow that came in under the crack in the front door.”

“That sounds like an adventure,” Hemi says.

“It absolutely was,” Essie agrees. “And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Essie’s living in a tiny bachelor apartment not far from the rest of us, making it easy for her to join in on moving day.

Rix pulls her phone out of her pocket and sighs. She types a message and slides it back into her pocket.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Tristan is on his way here and he’s bringing Nate.”

“I didn’t know he was coming.” When I told Dallas we were moving Tally into residence this weekend, he offered to help. Her dad was called out of town for an unexpected meeting in New York, and Tally’s brother has a cello performance that her mom needs to attend, so we gladly stepped in. Flip decided to tag along. And apparently now Tristan and his younger brother.

Not quite the low-key entrance Tally was hoping to make, but she doesn’t want to hurt their feelings and tell them no. Also, she has a lot of boxes.

“Yeah. He’s been a bit needy lately.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Brody’s convocation is in September, and his mom is suddenly interested in attending. She called him last night, and he’s having a hard time. Add in Nate staying with us until he gets his apartment at the beginning of the month, and it’s been intense.”

“Tristan doesn’t have much contact with her usually, right?” Dred asks.

Rix nods. “She sends a card at Christmas, but he hasn’t seen her in years. The whole thing has been really triggering for him. In the past, he would shut down, or be a dick, but he doesn’t want to default to asshole mode now, so he’s increased his therapy sessions. It’s been good for him, but it also meansfeeling all the feelings and learning how to let them exist without taking over.” She sighs. “With me going back to school soon, Nate moving to the city for a new job, and the start of the season, it’s just a lot. And he wants more time with me, so he’s on his way over. He’s been showing up for himself and asking for what he needs, even when it’s hard, and that’s huge progress.”

I bump her shoulder with mine. “It can’t be easy, though.”

“It’s not, but we’re supporting each other, and that’s what relationships are about.” She looks over at Tally. “I’m sorry another Terror player is helping you move in.”

“It’s okay. Anyone who knows hockey knows my last name anyway. It isn’t like I’ll be able to keep it a secret.” Tally hugs Rix.

We all pile on.

Dallas appears in the doorway, followed by Flip.

“Uh, everything okay?” Dallas’s forearms and biceps pop under the strain of the box he’s carrying.

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