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Ijust smile and shake my head before escaping down the hall.
Ican’t eat. It isn’t right. Not when she can’t.
Herroom is chilly when I enter so I pull the blanket up over her chest. I know shecan’t feel, but old habits die hard. Her hand is limp in mine as I sit downbeside her and talk until late evening.
It’sdark when I leave and I notice I have a few missed texts from Ayda, then onefrom Dare cursing me for not showing up. We go through this every majorholiday. I’m grateful for all of them, but I just can’t. This is something Ihave to do.
Theburger place is still open on my way home, so I walk through my door with agreasy bag of food and flip on the TV for company. Leah will most likely be homesoon and I still have no idea what to say to her.
Myphone beeps again with a text from Dare.
Dare:Leah is spending the night with us.
Imust read the message ten times, trying to find some meaning between the lines.Is she avoiding me? Is she hurt? Pissed? Is Dare suspicious? I can’t deal withthe suspense anymore so I text back.
Me:Everything okay?
Dare:No, I have a house full of women watching sappy love movies. Send help.
Me:You’re on your own, buddy.
Darecomplains, but I know he wouldn’t trade his life with Ayda and little Ollie foranything.
Therewas a time when I dreamed of the same thing.
Chapter Seven
Leah
“Oh!I can’t say that!” Ayda’s friend Sunny exclaims, dissolving into giggles.Justus brought over a card game that is all kinds of wrong, but horribly funny.It’s kind of like dirty Mad Libs, but you have to choose from the cards in yourhand to fill in the raunchy sentences. It has everyone cracking up.
I’mlaughing with the girls and having a good time, but Tucker is never far from mymind. That kiss was amazing, but he obviously regretted it immediately since heran away like I tried to poison him with my tongue. He was drunk, so I’m justchalking it up to that. Hell, we were both drunk. I’m willing to pretend itnever happened if he will.
Istill hate the fact that he’s alone tonight, though, because his claim ofvisiting family is clearly untrue. I’ve never even heard him mention any familybefore, and he refused to answer when I asked about them. The man is one bigbroody riddle.
Irealize I’m not really listening to the conversation going on around me until Ihear Sadie say, “That’s because you were trying to hump me in my sleep!”
“Hey,surprise morning sex is the best way to wake up,” Justus argues, resting hishands on Sadie’s shoulders as he stands behind her chair.
“Notif you’re in prison,” Landon jokes, and everyone laughs.
“True,”Justus agrees, then turns to Derek. “Anything you want to tell us, buddy?”
“Wouldn’tyou like to make it through just one holiday without me beating your ass?” Derekreplies.
“It’snot Thanksgiving until Dare tries to pull him apart like a wishbone,” Zoepoints out.
Justusreaches down and runs a hand over Sadie’s breast. “Come on Sadist. Let’s getyou home so I can treat you like my big toe and bang you on all the furniture.”
Sadieslaps at him as he paws her. “After the game!”
“You’rewelcome to spend the night as well,” Derek offers.
“Ah!”Justus pretends to be offended. He grabs the uncooked turkey neck—that he spenta good ten minutes shaking at us like a penis earlier—and throws it at Derek.“Cockblocker! And on the Lord’s day!”
Hannah,Justus’s sister bursts out laughing. “That’s Sunday, not Thanksgiving.”
Justusis too busy running from Derek to hear her response though.
