Page 23 of Refusing Kendall

Ry:If ur tlking bout the infuriating caveman then yes still here

Me:Are you ok?

Ry:L8R

Me:Ok

After sending her a little heart emoji, I grab my bag out of the back and make my way to the door. It’s late and pitch black outside. I’m extremely grateful for the street lamps as I question my sanity for not just staying anther night with Ryleigh. Thankfully, I make it inside the house without incident. It’s pretty lucky for my pants, because I probably would’ve pissed myself at the mere sight of a squirrel, as high strung as I am.

Only one more battle to win. It’s darker in the house than it was outside, and the light switch is all the way over by the hallway leading to my room. I figuratively pull my big girl panties up and don’t bother fishing for my phone to use the flashlight. I’ve got something to prove to myself. Bypassing the switch in the hall, I make my way into the bathroom and flip the lights on.

I let out a short victory cry and wave my fist in the air, “Eat that, Casper. You didn’t get me this time.”

Coming out of the bathroom, I turn left to go back and flip the kitchen switch, now that I’ve proven my point. Only, as I cut around the corner, a face jumps out at me and whispers, “Boo!”

Those people that say that moments like these slow down and last forever are damn liars. I’ve already dropped my bag, screamed like a banshee, and tripped over, not just the bag, but my own two feet before I recognize Teagan’s face. If it wasn’t for his hand whipping out to close around my wrist, I would be lying flat on the floor right now.

“Holy shit, sweets. Are you ok?” he asks, yanking me to his chest.

Taking a minute to catch my breath so that I don’t burst into full blown hysterics, I pull away from him. I start smacking him everywhere I can reach as I yell, “That was so not cool, you fanny flapping welly!”

Teagan’s mouth drops open in surprise as the others’ laughter echoes from behind him.

“What did you just call me?” he asks over the guys’ continued laughter.

I cross my arms over my chest to show that I’m still pissed, “Something I heard on a British tv show. What? Don’t look at me like that. I have too much free time on weeknights.”

Mav sticks his head around Teagan, “I don’t think you used those quite right, baby girl.”

“And I couldn’t give two shits less,” I say as I step into his waiting arms, “He deserves it for scaring the shit out of me like that.”

“Technically,” Goose says from the doorway that he and Lucas still stand in, “He scared the fanny flap wellies out of you.”

“Umm, forget the British insults,” Teagan remarks while watching me with a worrisome expression. “Who were you yelling at when you flipped on the lights? Casper, was it?”

Letting go of Mav, I step toward Lucas, and his arms settle easily around me.

“She thinks the house is haunted,” Lucas admits, ratting me out.

“Thanks a lot,” I groan.

He winks down at me and places a kiss against my lips, before pushing me towards Goose.

“It’s true,” I sigh. “I swear, I leave this light on, and every time I come back home it’s off again.”

Mav’s eyebrow lifts, “You’re probably turning it off without even realizing it.”

I want to argue with him, but now isn’t the time. It was a long drive, not to mention T scaring at least five years off my life, and my boys are home.

I tighten my arms around Goose and tilt my face up for a kiss. He doesn’t disappoint, and I melt against him.

“What are you guys doing home so early?” I ask when Goose pulls back slightly, pressing his forehead against mine.

"When you told us that you were coming home, we figured we'd fly back tonight and meet you here," Mav says.

"Well, I'm really glad you did," I tell them. "I missed you guys. Played hell of a game, too, by the way."

They chuckle as Goose leads us toward the family room downstairs. "Thanks, babe. Glad you were still watching," he teases.

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