Maverick finally speaks up. "You were limping yesterday."
Everyone grows silent, their eyes falling on me.
"Yeah." I fiddle with the corner of my shirt. "He pushed me the other night and I fell on my hip. It's just bruised."
Alec decides to take me at my word, not making me get up so he can check it out.
Everyone's quiet. No one breaks the silence or tries too. Everyone's lost in their head. My fingers still in Luc's hair. He looks up at me.
"You okay, Butterfly?" He murmurs and I nod slightly. I go back to running my fingers through Luc’s hair because he seems to like it.
"When will J be back?" Mason asks the group.
"He said he'd be back before you guys are home from school," Luc tells him.
"Are you coming tomorrow, Rory?" Alec asks like he already knows my answer.
I look over and meet his hazel eyes—concern lingering in them. "Yes."
"It's okay to have a few days off," Alec tells me.
"I know, it's just…I can't let him win.”
I’m determined to get away from him and passing high school helps. I just hope I make it that far.
It's silent again and I grow tired. I find myself leaning into Maverick. My eyes flutter closed and I yawn.Somebody asks me something but I'm too tired to respond. A southern voice tells them to shut up.
An arm is put around me and I lean in closer. A deep chuckle rings through my ears.
. . .
I don't open my eyes immediately when I feel someone trying to lure me awake.
"Rory," they drawl.
"No." I grumble.
Despite my protests, my eyes flutter open and am met with Dominic's face. He smirks when I just stare at him. "We got dinner if you're hungry."
I look behind him and see a bunch of pizza boxes on the coffee table.
Shit, I must have fallen asleep. I’m far too comfortable around them. This can’t happen.
"Yeah." I rub my eyes, trying to shake off sleep. "What time is it?" I ask the general group.
"Almost seven," someone says roughly from beside me.
I lift my head and realise I've been leaning on Maverick. He’s staring down at me with a stony expression that’s difficult to interpret.
"Sorry," I mumble, sitting up.
"It's fine," Maverick rumbles, sending butterflies through my stomach.
Hush, I tell them.
His eyes flick down and I follow his gaze. I look down and see Mase asleep with his head in my lap, his long legs stretched out along the rest of the couch. He shifts a little as the guys chatter picks up.
I run my fingers through his hair to see if it's as soft and wavy as it looks. It is.
