“It’s a working title.”
For a second, the room felt almost normal.
Almost easy.
The laptop sat between us with murder footage trapped inside it, my sister was still missing, and I was technically being “strongly discouraged” from leaving a motorcycle clubhouse, but somehow I was sitting in bed teasing Push like we’d known each other longer than a day.
That was probably not healthy.Then again, nothing about my life had been healthy lately.
A yawn hit me hard and suddenly, wide enough that my jaw popped.
Push’s expression immediately shifted.“You’re done.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You almost unhinged your jaw.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“Same thing, but bossier.”
He moved to the edge of the bed and picked up the laptop.“No more footage tonight.”
I wanted to argue, I really did, but the second he took the laptop away, my body seemed to realize the work was done and went boneless against the pillows.“Fine,” I muttered.“But only because my brain feels like oatmeal.”
“Get some sleep.”
I watched him set the laptop on the dresser.
He moved around the room quietly, checking the window lock without making a big deal about it, glancing toward the bathroom, then back at me.
Protective without announcing it.That was becoming his thing.It was annoying how much I noticed.
He stopped at the doorway and looked back.“I’m right next door,” he said.“You need anything, holler.”
“I remember.”
His hand rested on the doorframe.“Door’s always open.”
Something about that settled low in my chest.
Not the words exactly, but the way he said them.Like he meant more than the room.Like if I needed water or help or someone to stand between me and the rest of the world, all I had to do was make a sound.
I nodded.“Okay.”
Push held my gaze for another second, then stepped into the hall.The room felt bigger the second he left.Which was ridiculous because he was literally right next door.I could probably throw a pillow at the wall and hit him by sound alone.
Still, I missed him.
The realization hit fast and sharp.
I missed him.
Oh, that was inconvenient.
I stared at the doorway for a second longer before forcing myself out of bed.
