The terror of losing Griffin had chilled me to the bone. All at once, I began shivering so hard my teeth clattered together.
My friends’ heads whipped in my direction.
“OhmyGod, Joss, what’s wrong?” Layla asked aloud, wincing at her slipup.
“No-othing,” I stuttered over a vibrating jaw.
Hunt wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close to his side. “Lay, get her a blanket.”
“That-t’d be good.”
I tried to explain but couldn’t get the words out until after Layla tucked a blanket tight around me. I smiled my thanks at her.
She grunted.
Brady leaned forward to better study me.
“I…” I sucked in a steadying inhale, sank farther into the blanket and Hunt’s warmth. “It’s just … really hard to try to have fun when Griff’s gone.”Not dead. Absolutely not dead. Just temporarily gone.
“Aw,” Layla said. “I know, honey.” Sheneverused sweet endearments. “Losing him’s been really rough on all of us.”
I added privately.
Hunt supplied with every ounce of bitterness I felt too.
“Cue up another funny vid for us, Hunt,” Layla said for our spies.
Hunt complied while Brady growled into our joint mindspace:
My shivering subsided but I continued to lean into Hunt.
Brady said.
Layla said.
Hunt said.
I said.
Brady met my eyes.
I sat up, patting Hunt’s shoulder in thanks.
The three of them stared at me, the glow of Hunt’s screen casting their faces in grim, gray light. It suited our vibe perfectly.
Layla pointed out.
Brady said.
She shrugged and frowned darkly.
Somebody howled with laughter in whatever video Hunt was playing in the background. I ground out a laugh that hurt.
