He picks at something on his finger. “Yeah. Maybe.”
I have to change the subject before I die in this kitchen. “Is your face okay?”
“Yeah,” he grins, looking over at me. “It’s nothing.”
Gianna walks into the kitchen like she’s walking on eggshells. “Sorry to interrupt, but the Uber is here. Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I nod. I look at Blue. “It was nice catching up.” I finish my can and throw it in the trash, walking past him. When I reach the door, he calls my name, so I turn around, flushed.
“Do you have the same number?” he asks with soft eyes.
My heart starts racing so fast that I can feel my pulse in my fingertips. I don’t trust my voice, so I nod. Mila comes up beside me and looks at Blue. This time, she doesn’t snub him.
“Ready?” Mila says. “I have plans in the morning.”
I look at her and nod. “Yeah.” I look at Blue before I walk away. “Good night.”
He waves.
I let Mila pull me through the house. We tell the rest of the guys goodnight while my heart’s still in my throat.
When we walk outside, Mila pulls me closer to her. “How did it go? You guys were talking the whole time, or?”
“He asked if I had the same number.” I try to hide my blush.
“Oh my god,” she gushes. “Are you serious?”
I nod.
“Do you think it’s going to be different this time?”
I think about what he said about my future children and nod. “I think so.”
We hop into the warm Uber with Gianna. Lucy’s staying with Benson for the night. Before we drive off, I look out the window at the Hawthorne House. The lights are on through the window, and I smile to myself.
Chapter 16
Blue
Ican’tsleep.
I’ve been in my bed for an hour and twenty minutes, and I have not closed my eyes for more than two minutes before my brain pulls them back open and goes back to the kitchen.
Fuck it.
I pick up my phone. The screen is too bright, so I squint and drop the brightness with my thumb. The thread at the top is hers.
I sent her two messages from the kitchen.
Me:Same number?
Melly:Yes.
Me:Cool.
What am I? Ten-years-old? The best I gave her was cool? This is what happens to me around her. I lose words in the presenceof Melly Sorcha. I wonder if she’s staring at our small exchange wondering what’s wrong with me. Hell, I’m wondering what’s wrong with me.
I sit up and turn on the small lamp on the nightstand. I look at my knuckles. The third one is going to give me real trouble tomorrow. I can already feel it stiffening in the joint, the slow purple climb of a bruise that is going to take a full week to come down.
