Page 79 of Thornhill Road

“Hey. Where are you?”

I frowned in confusion. I was still a little groggy, but conscious enough to know that question made more sense coming from me than him.

“Um, I’m just waking up.”

“Okay. You’re up now. Come answer your door.”

I was upright in a second, clutching Mustang’s sheets to my chest as I processed my brother’s demand.

“You’re—you’rehere?” I asked, suddenly brimming with excitement.

“Yeah, Tess. I’ve been knocking on your door for the last ten minutes.”

Scrambling out of bed, I hunted around the floor for something to cover my nakedness. “I didn’t know you were coming!”

“That’s because if I told you it would ruin the surprise.”

I laughed as I grabbed the tank top Mustang had on yesterday and quickly slipped it on.

“Oh, my gosh! I can’t wait to see you. But I’m not at home right now,” I told him, as I went to look for Mustang.

“Okay,” he replied cautiously.

“Just hold on a second.”

I found Mustang in the kitchen, dressed in a pair of gym shorts and a muscle tee, not surprisingly already making breakfast.

Pressing my phone against my belly, I hurried to stand beside him. “Babe, my brother’s here. He’s at my house right now. I haven’t seen him in months! Will you take me home? He probably rented a car, so he can take me to pick mine up later.”

He quirked an eyebrow at me, as if he thought I wasn’t making sense. “Why doesn’t he just come here?”

I thought I’d hit the bottom, but it suddenly felt like I was falling again.

“Really?”

He shook his head. “Baby—don’t say shit I don’t mean. I’m already makin’ breakfast.”

I reached for the back of his neck and drew him toward me, pressing up on my toes before I kissed him short but sweet.

“Thank you.” On my return trip to the bedroom, I brought my phone back to my ear. “Andy, could you meet me here? Mustang’s making breakfast. You could join us.”

“I’m sorry—Mustang?You’re seriously sleeping with a guy who refers to himself as Mustang?”

I rolled my eyes as I closed myself in the bedroom. “First of all, don’t be a judgmental jerk. You know I hate it when you’re like that. Second, he means a lot to me, and I really want you to meet him. Plus, my car’s in the shop, my house smells like paint, and you’ll be here in ten minutes if you leave now. Please just come.”

“Fine. Text me the address. I’ll see you in ten.”

After a quick goodbye, I hung up and texted Mustang’s address.

Ten minutes wasn’t nearly enough time to get ready for the day, but I managed to hop in the shower long enough to rinse the remnants of last night’s love making off of me before I washed my face and dressed in clothes that were mine. I was pulling my hair up in a little top knot when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” I cried before rushing down the hallway, my bare feet clapping against the hardwood floors.

“Tess?” Mustang called, halting me as I reached to twist the locks free.

I looked back over my shoulder to see him doing the same at me.

“Peephole, sugar. It’s not just for show.”

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