I don’t move. Don’t speak. If I open my mouth, I’ll start crying again.
I hear more footsteps. The room feels smaller with all of them in it.
“I didn’t mean to freak you out. Are you freaked out?”
“Tigerlily?”
That’s Jax. His voice does something to me. It makes me want to turn around. But it also makes me want to hide deeper into the pillow.
“What’s wrong?” Zephyr’s voice comes from near my feet.
The mattress shifts. Someone’s crawling onto the bed. I lift my head just enough to see Jax moving toward me, and the sight is so unexpected that I forget to cry for a second.
He’s too big for this. His shoulders are too broad, his frame too solid. He looks ridiculous crawling across a bed like this, but he doesn’t stop until he’s right next to me.
His face is close. “Talk to me, Tigerlily.”
“To us,” Callum adds from behind me.
A hand wraps around my ankle. Warm. Gentle. Zephyr’s voice follows. “We’re here for you.”
I wipe my face again and force myself to sit up. “He went to Elle’s.”
Jax shifts beside me. His hand settles on my thigh, fingers splaying wide. The touch sends sparks across my skin, makes my breath catch. I pull back instinctively.
His hand lifts immediately. Zephyr’s grip on my ankle loosens too.
They notice. They both notice that I hate being touched.
“Who’s Elle?” Callum asks. “Andhe?”
“My dad.” The words taste bitter.
“Oh,” Callum says, confused.
“Elle is my best friend. She’s the one I went to the hockey game with.”
Callum’s whole energy shifts. “You came to the game, Tiger?”
The excitement in his voice is so genuine, so boyish, that I almost smile. He has such a charm about him.
“I shouldn’t have.” My throat tightens again. “My dad’s going to call your coach.”
“Why would your dad call our coach?” Callum asks, confused.
“Will your coach give him your address?” I look between Jax and Zephyr. “He told Elle I ran away with myboyfriend.”
Zephyr curses under his breath. “Coach can be an idiot. He probably would.”
Jax’s jaw tightens. His eyes lock on Zephyr for a beat, some silent communication passing between them, before he looks back at me.
My voice cracks. “Maybe I should just go back home and save you guys the trouble.”
“No.” Jax’s response is immediate.
“No fucking way,” Zephyr says at the same time.
Callum shifts behind me. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I want you to stay here.” He says it so innocently. I look at him over my shoulder. He’s grinning that easy, careless grin. Like this is all just a game. Like my entire life isn’t falling apart around me. His smile shouldn’t make me feel better. But it does. Just a little. He’s clueless, and I’m grateful for it.
