Page 185 of Override

I laugh again. And just like that, some of the tightness in my chest disappears. Keaton watches me. Not the way Ronan did. There is no silent demand for me to stop. No look that makes me wonder if I've laughed too loudly or smiled at the wrong person. He simply watches. Like the sound is something he wants to remember.

I look down at the pillow. Then back toward the giant bed behind me.

An idea begins forming. A terrible idea. My father would hate it. My mother would probably have questions. Rachel, based on the way she'd smiled at Keaton earlier, would understand immediately.

I push that thought away. I still don't like the way her eyes softened for him even though I saw the love she has for Matt.

"There's enough room in here."

Keaton goes completely still. "What?"

I gesture toward the bed. "It's huge."

"I noticed."

"You could sleep in here."

His expression empties. Not in a frightening way. In a way that makes me think every thought in his head just disappeared at once.

I suddenly become very interested in the hem of my shirt. "Or not. That's fine too. I just thought since you were sleeping on the floor, and apparently the living room is a dangerously excessive distance away..."

"I'll sleep on the floor."

I look up. "In here?"

"If that's okay."

The relief that moves through me should probably concern me. It doesn't. "Okay."

He nods once. "Okay."

Neither of us moves.

I glance down the hallway. "You need your pillow."

"Right."

"And the blanket."

"Yes."

Still, he doesn't move.

I smile. "Keaton?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

He blinks once. Then twice. "No." I laugh softly. His mouth twitches. "I've had a confusing twenty-four hours."

"You kidnapped someone."

"Extracted."

"That sounds like kidnapping with better marketing."

He considers it. "That's... not wrong, exactly."