“Thanks for the ride,” she says, her shoulders hitching. “And for ordering food. And for not letting my thick skull hit the ground when I fainted.” She pushes out a laugh. “Sayla and Dex didn’t need to be welcomed home by a concussed former roommate. My life is chaotic enough. The last thing I want to be is somebody else’s complication.”
“You aren’t a complication,” I say. “Or chaotic.”
“Oh, but I am.” She scrunches her nose. “I do appreciate your reassurance, though.”
She heads toward the house, and I follow her. After several steps, she pauses. “This isn’t a date,” she says over her shoulder. “You don’t have to walk me to the door.”
“Oh, I know.” I gulp.Don’t I ever. “But as you so rightly pointed out, you just fainted. Less than twenty minutes ago. I want to be sure you get inside safe.”
She arches a brow. “Safe-ly.”
“See?” I chuckle. “Correcting my grammar could be a full-time job. I could pay you?—”
“Stop,” she says, but a smile tugs at her lips
We continue the rest of the way to the porch, where she stops and hikes the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder. “Now you’ve delivered mesafely, sir. You’re really quite the gentleman.”
Huh. At least she didn’t say friend.
“So.” I push my hands into my pockets. “You’ll eat that burger I ordered?”
“I’ll eat.”
“And you’ll hydrate?”
She nods. “I keep a Yeti here. I’ll drink two full ones. Promise. You can report back to Sayla that you got me fed and watered.”
“Good. Because tangling with her has consequences I’m not prepared to face.”
This earns me another small smile. Almost more than myheart can take. When she finally turns toward the door, I let myself exhale. One crisis at a time. One boundary at a time. I’ve done my part tonight, now I can go. But as I take a step back, the door swings open.
I freeze. So does she.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Loren!” he calls out gamely. “You’re late!” His hair is wispy and disheveled, but his voice is strong. He comes toward me quickly, and I can’t avoid the hand shooting out. Clamping my wrist.
This is bad.
“Well, get in here, you two!” He grins at me like I’ve just shown up at a party.
“Bridger’s busy, Dad,” Loren says.
“Nonsense. Noah and I have been waiting for you.”
I open my mouth to explain, and hopefully get myself out of the situation, but Loren turns toward me, her eyes meeting mine.
A silent plea.
Play along, she mouths.Please.
And just like that, leaving isn’t an option.
Chapter Four
Loren
Something you should know about my dad is he doesn’t believe in boundaries.