“We’re family, huh?”
“You know we are.”
“Yeah, but it makes flirting kinda awkward.” He looks down at me with mock disappointment, and I roll my eyes for the millionth time tonight.
“Oh, Moose. Don’t tell Jace you’re my favorite.”
“I would never, but you know he’s only a jerk because he cares about us.”
“Ha. I’m definitely nothisfavorite.” I shake my head.
“Nah, he loves you. For better or worse, he treats you like family. If he hasn’t seen you, he’ll text us. He’s only like that with you. Well, Annie, of course, but that’s different.”
“It’s almost like he guards her, and she could kick both our butts,” I blurt.
“I know! You see it too?”
“Yeah, I do, but we didn’t have this conversation.”
“Nope. We didn’t.” He gives me an exaggerated wink and flips right back to where we were. “Anyway, Jace is a control freak, and he’s scared things will get weird. Same as you.”
“You’re smarter than you look, pretty boy.”
“Nah, this body ain’t built for thinkin’.”
I grab him by the shirt hem and pull him back inside when he flexes and kisses his biceps.
“I doubt any girl can think once she sees you,” I tell him as he steps forward to open the door.
“It doesn’t work on you, though, and I-III knoow whyyyy,” he sings.
“Shut up.”
We’re still laughing as we walk back through the kitchen. Ms. Liz hugs us goodbye and thanks us for cleaning up. When I ask about my purse, she hooks her thumb toward the front.
“Your man got everything.”
I don’t bother correcting her. I’m done talking about this today. Sam pokes my side with a howl and runs out front to tell the others he’s ready, then comes back to walk Ms. Liz to her car. He sticks his hand out and smacks our palms together, then pulls me in for a shoulder bump half hug.
“You killed it tonight, Squirrel. Good talk, too. Love you, be safe.”
“Thanks. Love you too, Moose. Y’all be careful,” I tell them both in the quickest Southern goodbye ever.
Ms. Liz tells me to go out the front door, where it will automatically lock behind us, and I assure her we will. When I get back out front, DC’s the only one there.
Chapter 13
Heaven
“Where’s Jace?” I ask when I see the empty, mostly dark room.
“He took the truck back so I could walk with you.”
“Annie left too?”
“The irony.” He tilts his head with a laugh. “She’s going to help him unload. Sam will stop by and help before he heads back to the dorms. It’s just you and me.”
My stomach swoops a little. A few months ago, that would’ve been great. Tonight, it’s nerve-racking.
