Page 10 of Well That Happened

I blink. “Oh. Uh, no. I’m good.”

He nods once. Doesn’t move.

There’s a silence—not uncomfortable, exactly. Just thick with something I can’t name.

“You’re quiet,” I say, because apparently I can’t help myself.

Grayson shrugs. “You’re not.”

I should be offended. Instead, I smile.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

He says nothing. But his mouth twitches like maybe—just maybe—he’s holding back a grin.

Caleb claps his hands. “All right. Bathroom’s down the hall. You’ll share it with Grayson and me, which sounds worse than it is. Just don’t touch the hair stuff in the left drawer. That’s his.”

Grayson adds, “And don’t leave wet towels on the floor.”

“I’ve lived with girls,” I tell them. “This can’t possibly be worse.”

Famous last words.

Back downstairs, I hear a cupboard slam. Hard.

Hunter.

Caleb catches my eye. “Ignore him. He’s always like that.”

“I’ve

noticed.”Grayson leans against the wall, still watching me. “You gonna be okay here?”

It’s a simple question. But something in the way he asks it makes me pause.

I nod slowly. “Yeah. I think I might be.”

It’s not ideal, but considering this morning I had no idea what I was going to do, it sure beats being homeless.

Unpacking can wait.

I’m halfway to emotionally flatlining, and all I want is something carby and comforting. Maybe popcorn. Maybe pizza. Maybe a hard reset on the entire past twenty-four hours. Tomorrow I’ll go to the store and replenish whatever I ate, stock up on some basics.

I head downstairs barefoot, hoodie sleeves pulled over my hands. The lights are mostly off, but the glow from the living room flickers through the hallway.

A voice carries—low, serious.

Hunter.

I freeze at the bottom step.

“No, she’s fine,” he’s saying, tight and clipped. “Yeah. She got here about an hour ago.”

A pause.

Then, quieter, “I’ll keep an eye on her. Don’t worry.”

My jaw tightens.

---