“Absolutely no pressure. You just do. I can’t help myself.”
“Greyson Stone.”
“What?”
“You’re a romantic.”
“Only for you.” I smile at her and she smiles back—this private exchange that tells me whatever she was worried about has been settled, for now at least. “And don’t go telling people I’m happy. I can’t have my reputation getting tarnished like that.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
“And Dustin,” I say with a soft laugh. “Our secret’s safe with him.”
“Ugh!” she says.
I grab her mug and stand, rinsing it in the sink and setting it in the dishwasher. Then we cross the bays together and separate with a kiss goodnight. Or good morning. It’s almost four. We’ll be up in two hours. Totally worth it.
The morning comes way too quickly.
Dustin’s shaking my bed. “Wake up, Romeo!”
I grumble and sit up.
“Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”
“Are we really going there?” I ask, stretching my arms overhead.
“We?” he chuckles. “No we about this situation. This is alllll you.”
I nod. “Yeah. It is.”
Dustin smiles. And smiles. And smiles. Then his eyebrows start wagging in what I’d almost call a dance. “Don’t worry, Grey.”
“You know what?” I tell him.
“What?”
“I trust you.”
“Awww, Grey. Now you’re going to make me all weepy and emotional. Bring it in, man. Give me a big ol’ hug!”
“Get out of here,” I tell him, standing and pushing him lightly out of the way.
He overdramatizes and flies backward onto his bed.
We hit breakfast and do last-minute checks before shift change. Hallie keeps glancing over at me. I smile at her every time, carefully, but maybe not as carefully as I had been before Dustin walked in on us last night. Something about him seeing us made me realize we’ll survive exposure.
Mia’s another story. And for her sake, we still need to be careful. Bit by bit.
My phone pings with an email when I’m walking toward the Jeep.
“See you in twenty-four!” Dustin shouts.
I wave to him.
I open my email.
Sender:USA JOBS. Subject:Application Status Update–FEMA Emergency Management.
