Page 107 of Verses

And I didn’t know if I should be happy or cautious, but as Wolf continued holding me up against the wall of the shower, he finally lifted his head, pressing his forehead into mine. Our noses touched, and I searched his eyes, looking for answers.

But there were none I could find.

As before, I didn’t know what to say or even if I should say anything, because my emotions were like a tossed salad.

Wolf said only one thing. “We’re gonna be all right, Hayley.”

I tried to let that comfort me, allowing it to give me hope for the future.

Maybe wewouldhave a chance.

CHAPTER 29

Christmas Eve arrived quickly.

Earlier in the week, Wolf had asked the guys what they were doing for that festive evening and none of them were working, so Wolf invited us all to his house for a Christmas potluck. The guys all had family plans for Christmas Day, but Intent to Murder was going to spend the night before the holiday together.

I wasn’t much of a cook, so I decided to bring hummus with crackers and veggies, something I never would have tried if not for trying the grab-and-go snacks at Early Rise.

Kyle offered to drive me, Pedro, and Adrian since we were all in the same building and had the same destination. I couldn’t remember the last time the four of us had been in a vehicle together, but I knew Liam had been alive whenever it was.

We didn’t talk on the ride but Kyle was playing Code Orange, and all four of us were singing “Out for Blood” as he drove down the road to Wolf’s house. That moment was the first time in ages that I’d felt true camaraderie with my entire band…but maybe that was just because it was Christmas.

When we got to Wolf’s house, we all walked in carrying food. As I walked past Wolf holding the door, I smiled, wishing I couldwrap my arms around him and kiss him furiously, and I saw the same feeling in his eyes. But we both knew that we had to play it cool.

It would be so damn hard…because the way his hair was slicked back and the way his t-shirt clung to his pecs made me hungry for him.

“You can put all the food on the kitchen counter,” Wolf said, following us there. “If you need to, you can move anything I already have there to make room.”

Pedro set a bag on the counter and then watched me as I put out what I’d brought. “What’s that, Hayl? Some kind of cheese dip?”

“It’s hummus.”

“Oh…we’re getting fancy now.”

I laughed. “Yeah. It looks like you brought your usual.”

“Hell, yeah. Grandma makes the best salsa this side of the Rockies. I’llalwaysbring it as long as I can keep talking her into it.”

Adrian said, “You meancoerceher.”

“Fucker.”

I chimed in. “If it’s so special, why are you ruining it with store bought chips?”

“I’ll have you know these chips are the best.” When I raised my eyebrows, Pedro added, “At least, the best our lame Charlotte Market offers.”

Still teasing, I said, “A likely story.”

“Bitch.”

I grinned at Adrian and he held out a fist. It was rare when one, much less two, of us could get Pedro’s goat. I bumped the drummer’s fist back before turning my eyes back to the counter to assess the food situation.

Adrian actually seemed to have put in some effort, because whatever he brought was in a little crock pot. I asked, “What did you bring?”

“Chili.”

“Oh! Is that the same chili you made when we moved into the apartments?”

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