“That’s a terrible plan,” he noted.
“It’s the only plan I have.”
He stared at me in the dark.
Then he exhaled and pulled me closer. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Stay. I want to hold you all night,” he said, and I didn’t know how to react because when he said things like that, my heart just fell deeper. I stayed, and for a few hours, I let myself sleep in Hunter Russell’s arms like the world outside his bedroom could wait. In the morning, I texted Taylor before I even got dressed.
Me: I stayed over.
Taylor: I assumed.
Me: Coffee?
Taylor: Already brewing. Also, you’re an idiot. Come over.
Hunter walked me to the door with his hair damp from a quick shower and his hand warm at the small of my back.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered. “I don’t even get to kiss you goodbye in my own hallway.”
I looked up at him. “Then kiss me inside.”
He did and it was soft and fast and not enough. I slipped into the hallway and made it to Taylor’s without running into anyone. Taylor opened the door, handed me coffee, and looked me over.
“You look disgustingly happy.”
“I’m also stressed,” I confessed.
“Because now you’re going to walk out of my condo and pretend you slept here?”
“That’s the plan. I’m sorry for getting you involved. I just don’t see another option.”
Taylor took a sip of coffee. “At least you’re hydrated.”
An hour later, I left Taylor’s condo with my hair fixed, coffee in hand, and the fragile confidence of a woman who had survived a secret overnight. Then Isla stepped out of the elevator with Hunter. She wore leggings, a Dallas Blaze hoodie, and carried a stuffed turtle under one arm. Hunter held a grocery bag and looked like a man who had just been hit with a puck he saw coming but could not avoid.
“Catherine!” Isla said brightly. Then she ran up to me and hugged me. I hugged her back.
My entire body locked for a moment then I hugged her back. “Hi, Isla.”
“You had a sleepover with Taylor?” she asked.
My gaze cut to Hunter. We both hated the lie but for right now there wasn’t another option.
“Yes.”
“Taylor has good snacks,” Isla said.
“She does,” I agreed.
Hunter said nothing. Which made him look guiltier. Isla looked between us, then tilted her head. “Are you busy?”
“Me?” I asked with surprise.
“Yeah. Dad said we could watch a movie. You should come watch too.”