Page 513 of End Game

Griffin joins us with the stack of paperwork, my antibiotic, and enough follow-up instructions to wallpaper a small bathroom.

His eyes move over me once. “Ready?”

“Please get me out of here.”

His smile comes easy. “Yes, ma'am.”

The house smells like coffee and whatever Dex has been cooking when we walk in.

I barely get into the kitchen before Ronan and Dex are staring at me.

Their expressions change at once.

Too much concern.

Too many eyes.

“No.”

Dex's mouth opens.

“Don't ask me how I am.”

It closes.

Ronan stops halfway out of his chair.

I point at him.

“You too.”

“I was going to say hello.”

“Oh.”

He waits.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

Dex comes around the island with his arms already halfway open. “Can I hug you without asking how you are?”

“Yes.”

He folds himself around me carefully. "Good. I was running dangerously low on Cami."

Too carefully.

Like I might crack.

Normally, I would tell him to knock it off.

Instead, I close my eyes against his shoulder and let myself have it for a few seconds.

His cologne makes him smell like home.

My throat burns before I can stop it.