He notices that, of course, but doesn’t say anything.
“Aren’t you a bit old to be getting here earlier than your scheduled time?” I say. “Think of your bones, Mave; show them some mercy.”
He laughs, and his grey eyes gleam under the moonlight streaming in through the hallway windows.
“What gave it away – my salt-and-pepper hair?” he muses.
“Your fading interest in wanting to stay alive, more like.”
He scoffs. “I’m 41, Nettie,” he tells me. “That’s barely old.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re 9 years away from having a midlife crisis.”
He laughs again, and it’s kind of a hoarse sound. Warm and comforting.
Mave is way taller than me, and has the build of a damn wrestler or some shit. I used to fantasize about having all of that weight pressed against me, but not anymore.
“You’re a fucking menace, Nettie,” he says.
I give him a quick wink. “Funny. Someone else told me the exact same thing today.”
He shakes his head. “You wanna tell me where you were?”
“No?”
“Come on, seriously?” he pushes.
I sigh and gesture at my body. “I’m alive and in one piece. Isn’t that enough?”
His gaze darkens as he runs it over my frame, then brings it back to my face. “More than, but–”
“Nope, I’m not going to listen to your self-righteous speech again, not tonight.”
He shifts on his feet and raises a brow at me. “Self-righteous?” he chuckles. “I’mhurt.”
“You know how I roll,” I tell him. “I ain’t sugarcoating shit for you.” I cover my mouth to hide a sudden yawn.
“Oh, I know.” He smiles, then briefly touches my cheek before saying, “I’ll let you rest.” He sighs and scans my features again. “Good night, Nettie.”
I squeeze his hand and return his smile. “Night, Mave.” I watch as he crosses the hallway and jogs down the stairs, and once he’s out of view, I close my bedroom door. I’m about to turn around when my phone vibrates in my hand.
I look down at it, and my chest all but tightens when I see his name flashing across the screen.
Dorran:I’m here.
Just two simple words from him, and I’m an absolute mess.
In my daze, though, I quickly realize that if Dorran is at the gates, then 1) The guards have seen him and have denied him access, and 2) Mave is about to walk out of those exact same gates, and if he sees Dorran, then shit will hit the fucking fan. Inveryunflattering ways.
And also that it’s 11:55p.m.
Fuck.
I run to the balcony and look out. I’m out of breath, a little bewildered, and a whole lot of scared.
Mave high-fives one of the guards at the gates, and the two share a quick laugh.
I search the road outside, but I don’t see him. He told me he’s here, but where the fuck is he?
