Page 21 of The Casualty of Us
“Ah.” His fingers pause with the sound before starting up again. “I see.”
I don’t add anything then, and neither does he, both of us silent as he continues to softly trace the shape of my face. Letting myself start to drift off even knowing I should probably stophim so that people don’t get further ideas. Go back to my dorm, where I’ll be able to nap uninterrupted.
But I do neither of those things.
Instead, I pass out to the soft little brushes across my skin and the order that comes with them.
“Sleep, Freckles.”
Fucking wrecking ball.
“I’ve got you.”
“Baby sister.”The whispered greeting is punctuated by a tickle on my nose and a giggle that I recognize by now. “Need you to wake up for this.”
“Hmm.” I open my eyes, squinting instantly against the afternoon light and blinking a couple of times before finding Ollie crouched beside me with an unhappy look on his face. “What is it?”
“Really?” He snorts, moving his gaze to stare at my stomach pointedly.
I look down to see a hand resting atop mine and turn my head to find Hayes still lying beside me. Completely passed out now with his lips parted in sleep and his body scooted closer to mine than what I remember from before I fell asleep.
“Fuck,” I mumble, sitting up and tossing his hand from mine before shooting Ollie a guilty look. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” Ollie grins easily while stepping over me. “Just didn’t want you to be collateral damage.” He reaches down without missing a beat, promptly rolling Hayes right off the edge of the dock while shouting. “Baby sister!”
I frown up at him as the initial splash of water is followed by some sounds of flailing. “Was that really necessary?”
“Probably not.” He shrugs. “But it sure made me feel better.” Hayes pops up gasping, and Ollie’s entire face transforms as he points at him sternly. “You come to me if you want to touch her!”
“That sounded so wrong.”
I look over at Holden’s pained voice to find him cringing as he takes a seat on the dock not too far from me and can’t help the laugh that bubbles up.
“Not like that.” Ollie’s face screws up with disgust. “I just meant, like”— he waves his hands around uselessly—“for permission and propriety’s sake and—”
“You’re not making this any better.” I cut him off with a roll of my eyes. “Also, please note that it is not the 1950s.” Looking over to Marley, I let it go and yawn widely. “How long did I sleep for?”
“Not long.” She shakes her head, a shit-eating grin on her face and looking highly entertained. “Maybe thirty minutes. Evie and Kennedy just headed back, but I wanted to wait for the show.”
“Which brings me to my next order of business.” Ollie claps his hands together as Hayes lifts himself back up onto the dock. “Who here has noticed the progressively worse-looking bags under O’s eyes this week?”
My mouth pops open, and I stare at him for a split second before spitting out. “Don’t you dare, Oliver Fitzroy.”
“Uh, me?” Holden lifts his hand up.
Marley’s hand shoots up next as she chirps, “Me!”
I turn to scowl at Hayes as he takes a seat beside me, dripping water everywhere, but he just chuckles. “Sorry, Freckles.”
“Traitor,” I snap.
“Great.” Ollie gives everyone a nod. “Glad we’re all on the same page.”
“Oliver,” I start warningly, but he’s already bulldozing right over me.
“O has trouble sleeping sometimes, and it’s easier for her to get some rest when she’s with me.”
“No, I’m—”
