I still, not knowing what to say. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”Drip.
“We’re all on the lookout for an apartment for you. I’d let you stay with me, but my sister and her kids are visiting soon.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.”Drip. Drip.What’s that sound?
The glass door opens, and Maverick and Jace stroll in. My stomach drops to the floor. I hope my friends didn’t tell that menace anything.
Mav tells me hi as he wraps his arms around his wife. They make such a cute couple.
As usual, Jace is on his phone. I manage to restrain an eye roll.
Baylee pats her husband’s chest. “Mav was wondering if a few of his football students could come here to study. They’re distracted at school, and their grades are suffering.”
Relief that I’m not the reason he and Jace came hits me hard, and I almost laugh. “Of course. I have plenty of room. I’m also happy to edit English papers.”
Mav grins. “Thanks, Rory. That would be great. I’ll try not to send you too many little hellions. But if you have any trouble, let me know so I can keep them in line.”
Jace finally puts down his phone. He’s standing on the far end of the circulation table, the open end to my side. Leaning against the counter, he smiles as his shaggy hair hangs in his green eyes. “Hey, Rory. Is Mav dumping too much shit on you? If he is, tell him. Just ’cause he’s a hotshot football coach doesn’t mean he can tell you what to do.”
I’m so stunned he’s talking to me, all I can do is stare back at him.
He frowns. “You okay?”
I clear my throat. “I’m fine. Just shocked you’re speaking in my direction. Usually you ignore me.”
His frown deepens. “What?”
Now I roll my eyes. “Nothing.” I shift my attention to Maverick. “Here’s my card. Tell your kiddos they can call here if they need anything specific.”
If I’m not mistaken, his brows are a smidge higher than they were a minute ago. “Uh, thanks. This is perfect.”
But when he reaches out to take the card, something splats on my wrist. Which is followed by several more splats. Why is water dripping on me right now?
We all look up.
Just in time for a huge chunk of the ceiling to collapse.
One minute, I’m doing my best impression ofThe Scream. The next, someone tackles me to the ground.
All of the aches from Saturday’s tumble into a pothole come roaring back as pain radiates across my body.
What just happened?
Eyes clenched shut, I try not to cry out. All I know is something heavy is on top of me, and I’m once again lying in a puddle of water.
I open my eyes to find startling green eyes staring back at me.
“Holy shit. Are you okay?” Jace asks, an inch away from my face.
I shove him away. “Can’t… breathe.”
He scrambles off me and offers me his hand, but I can’t lift it yet. When I open my eyes again, I find Jace, Maverick, and Baylee hovering over me.
“Is anyone hurt?” I croak. “Is Leo okay?”
Baylee crouches closer. “He’s fine. I called the fire department. They’ll be here in a minute to check you out. Can you sit?”
They help me lean against the wall behind us. From here I survey the damage. The circulation desk is covered in wet debris. All of the children’s books I needed to re-stack are soaked. And there’s a huge pile of rotten wood and sheetrock on the floor. But the worst part is the giant hole in the ceiling where water pours down around us.
