My mind races with pros and cons for each. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to slow the stream.
Savvy sits up, putting a hand on my leg. “Only one of them feels like love. My advice is to pick the one that listens, who knows what you need without you ever needing to ask.” She gives me a small smile. “But only you know who fits in that.”
Tex stands there.Duffle slung over his shoulder. Hoodie pulled low. His expression is unreadable. He steps inside, dropping his bag in its usual place. I follow.
When he turns around, he just opens his arms when I step closer, and I walk straight into them like I always do. And it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He holds me for a long time.
No words. No rush. Just his arms wrapped around me, his chin resting on my head, and the steady thud of his heart against my chest like a metronome only I can hear.
I pull back slightly, just enough to look up at him.
There’s a softness in his eyes I don’t see often, something quiet and unrushed beneath the storm. Only showing this side of him when we’re alone. His hand brushes a strand of hair from my face, fingers lingering at my jaw like he’s memorizing the shape of me.
“Rough week,” he says, voice low.
“Understatement of the year.”
He smiles — that crooked half-smile that always feels like a secret — and leans in to press his forehead to mine.
“You okay?” he murmurs.
“No,” I whisper. “But I am with you.”
His breath hitches, just a little.
His hands move up my body until they land on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“You’re tense.”
“How can I not be?” I throw my hands up. “We’re about to go head-to-head with Daniel and I’m trying to remember that I’m some badass Guild member, not a weak little girl who was beaten up so he could feel strong.”
Tex watches me, then pulls out his phone.
“What you doing?” I place my hands on my hips. “I’m talking to you.”
“I know.” He nods as he taps on his phone, connecting it to my TV, and upbeat music starts to play. “But I don’t think you need another conversation, you need movement.”
He walks over, taking my hands in his, moving me back and forth.
I scowl at him, and he laughs.
“You need to dance it out, Iz. Can’t have you going into this mission with your shoulders at your ears.”
He spins me around and tickles my sides. I giggle and squirm.
“There you go! Loosen up!” He claps to the beat, moving his shoulders.
I smile as I watch him. He moves his head side to side, making silly faces at me while he pumps his arms.
“I thought you were good at dancing.” I giggle.
“I can be, but letting loose isn’t about being good; it’s about releasing the tension. Go with the flow.” He shimmies around me, then does an awkward twerk against me.
We laugh together, and I jump and just let my limbs fall where they do.
He continues wiggling and making faces. His knees go in and out as he moves his arms in front of him, while bobbing his head like a chicken.
