Later, I hear them talking in Tiger’s room. I can’t make out the words but I hear the tone. Soft. Loving. Laughing.
Then the door opens, and Tiger comes out.
She sees me standing in the hallway.
“She wants to say goodnight to everyone.”
We stand near the door, looking in. Callum makes her laugh. Zephyr ruffles her hair. Then it’s my turn.
“Goodnight, Zinni,” I say from the doorway.
“Jax, wait.”
I walk over and sit on the edge of her bed.
“Are you Tigerlily’s boyfriend?”
Tiger freezes by the door.
“Maybe ask her,” I offer. I glance at Tiger. She’s watching me. “I don’t know,” I say honestly. “We’re figuring it out.”
“Do you like her?”
“Yeah. I like her.”
“Good. She likes you too. I can tell.”
She says it so matter-of-factly. Like it’s obvious. Like it’s simple.
“Get some sleep, Zinni.”
“Okay. Night, Jax.”
“Night.”
I walk out. Tiger’s still standing there.
“I’ll be out in a few minutes,” she tells me. “I’m just going to lie with her until she falls asleep.”
I nod, walk to my room, and change. Then I lie down in bed and stare at the ceiling.
I overthink about Zinnia’s question. About whether I’m Tiger’s boyfriend. About what the hell we’re doing. She wants to play house with two other boyfriends. I’m still not okay with it, but the idea doesn’t make me want to punch a hole in the wall anymore.
I must doze off because the next thing I know, there’s noise coming from the hallway.
I check my phone, and it’s past midnight.
I hear the bathroom door close. The faucet runs, then silence.
I’m about to roll over when my door opens.
Tiger stands in the doorway. Silhouetted by the hallway light.
“Jax,” she whispers.
I sit up, immediately worried. “Are you okay?”
She steps inside and closes the door behind her. The room goes dark except for the moonlight through the window.
