Page 169 of Revv

More like knowing something changed here, and now I have to figure out whether it still works when we’re back somewhere familiar.

Revel zips his duffel and glances over. “You’re thinking hard again.”

“I’m packing.”

“You do both.”

I shove another shirt into my suitcase. “Maybe I’m thinking about how annoying you are.”

“You don’t have to think about that. It’s pretty obvious.”

“Good point.”

He laughs, and that’s the end of it.

No pushing.

That is another thing I’ve started noticing about him.

When we first met, Revel would poke at every reaction until I wanted to throw something at his head. If I looked annoyed, he pushed harder.

If I got quiet, he filled the silence just to see if he could drag something out of me.

Now he seems to know when to let me have a thought without turning it into a fucking interrogation.

Which is somehow more dangerous than when he was annoying.

By the time we’re ready to leave, the room has gone back to looking generic. Suitcases closed, chargers packed, bathroom empty.

All the little pieces of us are gone from the surfaces and shoved back into bags like none of this

I sling my purse over my shoulder and reach for my suitcase, but Revel gets there first, grabbing the handle before I can.

“I can carry my own shit.”

“I know.”

“Then give it.”

“Nah.”

I stare at him. “You do know I survived just fine before you, right?”

“Yeah, Mama.” He hooks his duffel over his shoulder. “But I’m here now, so carrying your shit while getting threatened daily is basically my community service.”

I blink. “Did you just steal my line?”

His grin turns smug. “Just trying to be more like you.”

“Smart-ass.”

“See? Threat number one for the day.” He shifts my suitcase into one hand and hooks his duffel higher onto his shoulder, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I’m already putting in hours.”

I roll my eyes but finally let go of the handle. “Fine. Carry it, Papi.”

His brows lift at the easy surrender, that smug little grin spreading across his face as he takes a step backward toward the door. “Look at that. Cooperation.”

I point a warning finger at him as I grab my laptop. “Don’t make me regret it. You’re still on probation.”