looks me dead in the eyes, almost challenging me to look away. “Yeah, I did. I’m going to do it again.
Because I’m riding this train right over the cliff. You have a problem with it?”
It’s work, but I manage to keep a straight face. “Riding the train? Are we headed over a cliff?”
She nods seriously. “It’s inevitable. At some point, you’ll move on, and I’ll be heartbroken. But
until then, I want to enjoy every second of this.”
Frowning, I scan the room for Abby and pin her with a glare. She shoots me the finger and runs
away. Brat. She put this shit into Maya’s head. There is no way I’m letting her get away from me. And
breaking her heart? The idea turns my stomach. Because if I break her heart, if she walks away, there
will be nothing left of me.
I scan the dull yellow walls and bare concrete around us. This is not the place for this
conversation. We should be home, tucked into bed. There should be roses or something. And in the
background? Some sexy music.
Instead, we’re sitting on the floor, dog hair flying, as we listen to a symphony of my drunk
brothers making kissy noises, barking dogs, and laughter.
Not at all what I had planned, but honestly, I don’t care. It’s perfect because she’s here.
“There’s a lot to unpack there,” I say, grinning. “But let’s try.” She gives me a cautious nod.
“First, I think your plan, to enjoy every second of us, is perfect. I have the same damn plan. But this
train? If you’re planning to ride it off a cliff, then I’m going too.”
She frowns at me. “It’s my train. I’m the one riding it. You can’t ride it too.”
The mulish expression on her face makes me laugh. “Why not? It sounds like a hell of a ride.”
“Because you’re the freaking train. I’m riding the train, cowboy-style right to the end. You can’t
ride yourself.”
My chest shakes with the effort of holding in my laughter. “So, just to clarify, you’re going to be
riding me until we crash and burn?”
There they go again. Those eyes widen, and a wash of red covers her cheeks. I get a brief glimpse
of it before she slaps her hands over her cheeks and groans. “That came out wrong. I meant I was
riding you…the train. I mean, I’m riding the train.”
One laugh chokes out. “Cowboy-style, though, right?”
She screams in frustration and drops her chin to her chest. “It made sense in my head.”
“Oh baby, it makes perfect sense. I’m on board. You go ahead and ride me anytime you want.
