A small chuckle escapes Tally’s lips. “Yeah, let’s be better friends again. I miss you too. But she will always come first.”
I smile, encouraged by her response. “So, as good friends?—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Tally cuts me off with a warning tone. “Hunter.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just want to know how she is.” I bite my lip.I hate that I can’t ask Sloan herself.
Tally sighs heavily, shaking her head. “How do you think she is?”
Fuck.
“She doesn’t sleep, doesn’t eat. That crap of a van gave out altogether now, and she’s stranded in a place where she thinks the enemy surrounds her.” Tally crosses her arms over her chest, making her very pregnant belly stand out even more.
My voice softens as I say, “We’re not her enemies.”
“I know that,” she admits, frustration creeping into her tone. “But she doesn’t. You’re right. You fucked up,bad.” Tally’s eyes narrow as she continues, “You kicked her to the curb, literally. Called her crazy. Which, by the way, is a trigger for her.”
I raise an eyebrow, puzzled. “A trigger?”
“Just know she’s hurting badly,” Tally replies, her voice tinged with sadness. “And that’s because she’s so in love with you.All of you.” I swallow hard, the weight of my actions hitting me like a ton of bricks. “Do what you want with that information,” Tally adds. “But freaking dosomething, Hunter.And not in that dumb as…” she reaches out to stroke over Lio’s head, “… fudge way the guys did Sunday.”
I nod, a sense of determination washing over me. “I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”
Now, I only have to find out what that would be.
My cheek prickles,and I scrunch up my nose, trying to shake off the strange sensation. It persists, a gentle tickle that I can’t quite place. I swat at my cheek, desperate to make it go away, but it lingers. A soft chuckle erupts from somewhere beside me, followed by a familiar voice.
“Fucking adorable.”
Startled, I jerk my eyes open, and Saylor is lying on my bed beside me. He’s grinning from ear to ear, his hand gently stroking my cheek. Relief washes over me. “Casper,” I whisper, the weight on my chest lifting. “Finally.”
Saylor’s eyes darken with a hint of sadness. “Was I gone that long?”
“Just a day and a half,” I admit. “But it felt longer.” His expression turns even sadder, and I quickly add with a smirk, “I thought you’d ghosted me.”
“I ghost people all year round,” he jokes, a playful glint returning to his eyes. “But I’d never ghost you.” He leans in, cupping my cheek, and his lips meet mine in a soft, tingling kiss. My chest flutters and I imagine I can feel his breath on my lips when he pulls away. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles. “What did I miss?”
Where do I start?
“Oh, only North and Nash barging into the restaurant, demanding I forgive them,” I reply with a hint of exasperation. “Tim pushing Nash for touching me, Tally throwing them all out and banning them from the restaurant. Your normal Sunday evening.”
I wish I could be as nonchalant as I sound.
Saylor’s eyes widen, but I just continue, “Then yesterday, I was hanging out at Tally’s making plans and stuff, and Nash came in demandingagainthat I forgive him. He said he was sorry Ifeltthat way and that Ishould have told him sooner.”
“Goddamn,” Saylor curses, pinching the ridge of his nose, closing his eyes.
I turn to look over at the radio, which tells me it’s already evening. “And today I just napped, hoping everybody would just leave me the fuck alone.”
“Hmm…” Saylor looks thoughtful. “I can step outside if you?—”
I lean in to silence him with a peck on his lips and softly say, “You don’t count, idiot.”
A grin spreads over his lips before he chuckles. “You can tell me more about how I’m an idiot in a minute. But first, how are you?” His gaze falls over me, concern written all over his face.
I take a moment to contemplate it. My chest has been hurting so bad. My heart physically hurts as if it really was broken into pieces. Everything feels like it’s too much, and I’m so fucking tired because I can’t seem to close my eyes at night withoutseeing their ocean blue ones. The napping during the day, at least, is peaceful since I’m too exhausted to think before I fall asleep.
“Feeling pretty dead inside, to be honest,” I admit.
