Page 29 of The Way We Score

Lifting her finger, she flips a cover back then circles it over the keypad before punching in six numbers.

“I think that’s it.” She mutters, and I hope the hidden key still works when the satisfying shush of a lock sliding tells us she was right. “There, see? I did it.”

Her tone is slightly surprised, and I laugh as I hook my arm around her waist again, leading her inside. “Muscle memory.”

“It got me through many performances.” She waves a finger over her head. “You, too, I bet.”

She guides me to the guest room across from the kitchen, and I stop at the door. “Can you take it from here or do you need me to help?”

“I think I’ve got it.” She turns around in a complete circle before returning to where I’m standing at the entrance to her bedroom. “I wish I’d known you were going to be in town. I’d have asked you to be one of my bridesmaids.”

“It’s really okay.” I smile, tapping her nose. “I won’t hold it against you.”

“Just imagine you walking down the aisle with Garrett.”

My stomach twists, and I swallow the knot in my throat. “That would’ve been interesting.”

Her lip pokes out, and she puts both hands on my shoulders. “Tell me the truth, Liv. Is there any hope for you and Garrett or is that all over… ancient history… lost treasure?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I’ll bring you a bottle of water and some ibuprofen. Youdohave to walk down an aisle tomorrow.”

And I need to get away from here and catch my breath.

“I’ll wash my face.” She stumbles back through the room to the bathroom, and I hear the water start as I return to the kitchen.

Opening the refrigerator, I grab a bottle of water. Then I dig in my purse for a small, plastic tube of pain relievers.

I put a brown pill on her nightstand with a water bottle beside it. I can hear her brushing her teeth, and I’m about to go when the water switches off and she returns to me.

“You can’t walk home in the dark by yourself. Just spend the night.”

“Then I’d have to walk home in the morning, when I’m feeling worse. It’ll only take a few minutes, and you know Newhope is one of the safest places on Earth.”

“Still, there are gators and opossums… And raccoons! Some of them have rabies.”

“I haven’t heard about any rabid raccoons.” I pat her shoulders. “But I’ll sleep on the couch for a few minutes. Now get in bed and go to sleep.”

“Oooo, I love you, Liv!” She gives me one more, tight hug, then turns and goes into her bedroom.

I stagger over to the sofa, wondering how long I have to stay to fulfill my promise of staying a few minutes. I decide a few is two, and I sit down, taking out my phone to look at my emailsfrom work. I told everyone I was taking a little time away to care for my mother, and I even set up a responder email.

Still, there is so much work piling up in my inbox. Leaning to the side, I don’t even realize my eyes are heavy until I open them again. The house is pitch dark, and I’m comfortable and warm on the buttery leather sofa.

Someone put a blanket over me, and I blink hard in the darkness, trying to get my bearings. A noise from upstairs sounds like light snoring. The scent of citrus and soap greets my nose, and I have the distinct sense of a body nearby.

Sitting up slowly, the blanket falls, and I freeze when I hear the shuffle of something heavy moving around on the floor right in front of me. My heart beats faster, and my lips part. I’m about to say something when the body rises to a sitting position.

“Did I wake you?” It’s Garrett, whispering.

“No!” I whisper back. “I think I just woke up… I heard a noise.”

The soft snore sounds again, and we both look at the wooden staircase leading to the second floor, where all the siblings’ rooms used to be.

“Logan didn’t want to see the bride before the wedding day.” Garrett tilts his head. “He’s sleeping upstairs in Zane’s old room.”

My lips press into a smile, and I look back at him. “Why aren’t you sleeping in your old room?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Jack and I showed up to crash the bachelorette, but you’d already left. I didn’t want you to leave again without me knowing.”

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