“Why are you guys really here?” she asks.
Jax steps closer. “To make sure you’re okay.”
Her eyebrows fly up. “I’m okay. This is my life. Now if you don’t mind, I need to get back to girl’s night because after the week I’ve had, I need it.”
I smile, removing my arm from her shoulder. I look at the guys. “Always knew our Tiger had some fire.”
She blushes way too easily.
“Can we call you?” Zephyr asks.
She shakes her head.
“Why not?” Jax’s voice is tight.
She says, “Don’t worry about me.” Her eyes look at each of us. “Okay?”
Then she’s walking back to the house. Her two friends lean into her immediately, walking on both sides of her.
“Well,” I say, clapping my hands together. “That went well.”
“Shut up, Cal,” Jax mutters.
Zephyr glares at me. “Shut up, Brixton.”
I grin because we got what we came for.
We saw her, talked to her, and confirmed she’s alive.
And now we know she’s not as okay as she wants us to think.
Chapter Seventeen: Tigerlily
My heart’s pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. In my fingertips. In every nerve ending, lighting up like I’ve been plugged into an electrical socket.
Three guys just showed up at my house.
For me.
Not for someone else. Not by accident.
For me.
The feeling is strange and intoxicating and terrifying all at once. Like standing at the edge of a cliff and realizing you want to jump. Like being seen for the first time in your life and not knowing what to do with the attention.
Madison’s grinning at me like I’m suddenly the most interesting person she’s ever met. Elle’s whispering rapid-fire questions I can barely process. Hailey and Peyton are probably still inside, wondering what the hell is going on.
I’m not used to this.
I’m the background friend. The one who listens while everyone else talks. The one who blends into corners and doesn’t make waves.
But right now, I’m the center of everything.
And I don’t hate it.
“What did they say?” Elle demands, leaning into me. “What did they want?”
I hide my smile. “Just to check on me.”
