Page 7 of Fallen Flame

Maybe it was Oliver. Maybe he’d spent all night thinking about what happened in the hallway. Maybe he’d realized turning me down had been the biggest mistake of his life. Maybe he was standing outside my door with coffee and an apology.

I smiled despite myself. That smile lasted approximately half a second.

“Lark?” Ever’s voice floated through the door. “You awake?”

My smile disappeared. Well... part of me was relieved.

As embarrassed as I still felt about last night, facing Oliver first thing in the morning sounded about as enjoyable as licking a frozen flagpole.

“Come in,” I called.

The door swung open, and Ever peeked her head inside. “There you are.”

“There I am,” I agreed.

She smiled before slipping inside and quietly shutting the door behind her. Instead of grabbing the chair sitting in the corner, she marched straight toward the bed.

“What are you—” My question ended in a laugh as she launched herself forward. She belly-flopped onto the mattress beside me and the entire bed bounced.

I bounced. The pillow bounced. I think the room might have bounced, too.

Ever let out the happiest sigh I’d ever heard. “Oh,” she mumbled into the blanket. “This bed is comfy.”

I stared at the side of her face.

Her cheek was smashed into the comforter, making one eye look slightly smaller than the other. A goofy grin spread across her face like she didn’t have a single worry in the world. “What the heck are you doing in here?” I asked, laughing. “Shouldn’t you be in bed with Jude?”

She turned her head just enough to look at me, her cheek still mushed into the mattress. “Jude and I just got done saying good morning.” Her grin somehow grew. “He’s in the shower, and I thought I’d come check on you. Make sure you’re settling in.”

I snorted. “Girl.”

“What?”

“You’re talking like you’ve lived in this clubhouse since birth.”

She laughed.

“I’m pretty sure you’re just as much of a newbie as I am.”

“Technically.”

I raised an eyebrow. “But?”

“But...” She shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve got Jude to help soften the blow.”

My eyes widened dramatically. “Oh.”

She blinked innocently. “What?”

“So that’s what the kids are calling it these days.”

Ever’s mouth dropped open. “Lark!”

“What?”

“You know exactly what.”

I grinned. “I do.”