Page 21 of When We Breathe
“Some asshole drugged Billie at the bar last night. Tried to hurt her, but Connor was there and took care of her.”
“Jesus, she’s okay?”
“Yeah, she’ll be okay. I’ll stop in and check on her tomorrow. Anyway, have a good night, guys.” She yawns and reaches for her bag, but Adam just gestures to the stairs.
“I’ll take this up.”
Alex shrugs. “You know what? I’m too tired to argue.”
It was hot today, but it’s cooling down now that the sun is setting. I follow them up the stairs, and when Alex opens the door, we feel the hot air roll over us.
“Don’t freak out,” she says. She already knows us pretty well becausehell noto this. “I have fans, and I’ll open the windows. I’m fine.”
She bustles about, opening the windows andpropping large fans in them to bring in the cooler air. It does take the edge off fairly quickly.
“See? It’s fine.”
Adam’s standing in the middle of the room, and we’re both taking in the tiny desk under the window, a kitchenette with a half fridge, a microwave, and a hot plate, and the small green loveseat.
I walk through to the bedroom and find a tiny bed and a dresser in the cramped space. The bathroom is the size of a coat closet, with maybe the smallest shower I’ve ever seen.
Adam glares at me.
Neither of us wants to leave her here.
“Have a good night,” she says by the doorway. “I have to get some work in before I go to sleep.”
“Call us if you needanything,” Adam instructs her as he takes her chin in his fingers and tips her face up so he can kiss her. We all exchanged numbers on the boat.
“Okay,” she whispers. “Same goes.”
Adam kisses her forehead, then steps outside. I can hear him on the stairs as I pull Alex in for another hug.
“Wish you’d come home with us.”
“Thank you for inviting me, but I’m fine here.” She kisses my chest, then tips her face up and smiles at me. “I think you guys are snobby when it comes to my adorable apartment.”
“If by adorable you meantiny, you’re right. And no, we’re not snobby. But we care about you, and we want to make sure you’re comfortable.”
“I’m great,” she says and boosts up on her tiptoes, still too short to meet my lips.
“Shorty.” I playfully take her lips with mine, lick over the seam and inside her mouth, making her whimper and lean into me. My hands drift down to her round ass, and I pull her closer. Fuck, she feels so damn good against me.
It takes every bit of my strength to pull away.
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I tell her, and she just smiles at me before I turn to walk out of her apartment.
When I get in the car, Adam starts the engine and pulls out of the driveway.
Chapter Nine
ADAM
Ididn’t think that I ever wanted to live with someone. Hell, I didn’t think that I’d ever want to be in a committed relationship. I watched my parents’ farce of a marriage my whole life, and I knew that I never wanted that for myself. I’d rather be alone than endure the company of someone I would grow to hate.
But then I met Gabe, and I knew within just a few days of dating him that I didn’t want to be without him, even for one minute. I wanted to share a home and build a life with him.
He’s everything my parents weren’t. He’s everything I didn’t know I needed. My best friend, the one who gets me and loves me anyway.
