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“Drew, you want to come help me find it? I could use a guinea pig to read to.” I held out my hand in invitation. “If you don’t want to, you can leave. I understand.”
“Not a fucking chance,” he said, slapping his palm against mine and trying to give me his usual crooked smile, but it fell flat this time.
My eyes flickered to Lake, asking silently if he was okay with me giving Drew a little extra attention. This journey was supposed to be about the two of us, and I didn’t want to abandon him.
“Micah, can help me look for the extra code,” Lake said, giving me a soft smile.
Keeping my hand in Drew’s, I stepped forward, giving Lake my full focus for just a moment.
“Maybe we can do something with just the two of us soon?” I asked, not wanting to let the distance grow between us.
His eyes lit up, and he nodded. “I would love that. Mom actually texted me about a family dinner. Maybe we can do something in the afternoon and then end our night there with the pack.”
“I’m in,” I promised. “They could probably use some reassurance that we’re surviving this. Knowing Everett, they probably know all about this journey, and you know your mom is driving herself crazy with worry.”
“She is,” he muttered. “I’ve gotten like four texts a day.”
“Oh god,” I groaned. She meant well but she could be a lot when she was worried about them.
“Go on,” he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “We’ve got all the time in the world, Shaye.”
“We do,” I agreed, giving him a small smile before pulling Drew over to the fantasy romance section.
“So, what book are you looking for?” he questioned. I noticed his eyes were trained on me, not even giving the titles a second glance.
“Remember that book I told you about? The one about the library?” I asked. He nodded. “That’s the one.”
My eyes scanned over the shelf until I found the book in question.
Legends of Asteria, the Librarian Chronicles.
I plucked it off the shelf and ran my fingers reverently over the cover. It was well-worn, and I knew I’d given it a bit of that wear and tear myself.
Just the sight had me transported back to those summers as a teen, the scent of Everett around me, both of us tucked into a chair.
It was a moment that I never thought I’d get to recreate.
I was excited to be able to share it with Drew. I had a feeling it was something he’d always wanted but could never voice for himself.
It was crazy that the moment I got out of my own head, I was much more aware of them. Their scents were stronger, and I was noticing the little tics about them—like the way Riven’s jaw tensed when he was frustrated or the way Micah fidgeted when he was nervous. Drew tapped his fingers on his leg anytime he got uncomfortable, and Lake had his same old tell, running his hand through his hair until it looked crazy.
“Now what?” Drew asked as his fingers tapped out a rhythm on his leg. I hated that this was making him panic, even if he tried to hide it.
“Do you trust me?” I questioned.
“Of course,” he said without a single hint of hesitation.
“Then let me read to you. No judgment, no questions. You can even close your eyes.”
“Sounds like heaven,” he promised. I pulled him over to the chair before pushing him down. He laughed as he hit the chair. The impact had it scooting backward a few inches with a squeak along the hardwood floor.
There was only room for one of us so I settled onto the arm of the chair, my feet in his lap.
He pulled off my shoes and dropped them on the ground, his hands massaging my feet. I let out a groan as I turned to the first page, starting to read.
Drew’s eyes drifted closed as I started to read. He looked so content that I didn’t let myself stop.
One chapter quickly turned into two, and it was only when my mouth was dry and I needed a drink that I closed the book at the end of chapter 2.
