Page 91 of Chasing Home
“Thomas is just jealous, Loren,” Aurora says, drawing everyone’s attention, especially mine. Noticing that, she lifts a shoulder and swirls her final piece of pancake in syrup.
“What does that mean?” I ask her, some beastly, jealous part of me demanding to know exactly what she’s thinking.
“You know what I meant.”
“Nah, say it out loud, Rory,” Thomas says, egging her on with a shit-eating grin on his fucking face.
I flip him off, and he howls a laugh.
Eliza tuts. “You’re a bunch of asses. Leave her alone.”
I rest my fork on my plate and drop my hand to my girl’s thigh, leaning close as I whisper, “If you’re trying to make me jealous, darlin’, it’s working.”
“Hey! Don’t whisper to one another. Share with the class!” Thomas shouts. “I’ve always wanted to see Johnny punch someone. Never expected it to be Loren, though.”
Rory turns her head just enough to catch my gaze, her mouth twitching at the corner. “What are you talking about?”
I grin nice and wide, squeezing her thigh. I’d have planted a big, sloppy kiss on her lips right here, right now, if I felt like I needed to make a statement. But when she surprises me with one on my jaw, I can’t think of much else besides the sudden cramped sensation in my chest, like my heart is too big to fit.
“She said you look like the rear end of a donkey, Lo. Sorry to break it to you,” I say, not looking away from my favourite set of blue eyes.
Even Wade laughs then, the rare sound of it settling over everyone. Rory shakes her head at me, but sometimes, true happiness is impossible to hide. It’s too bright. I feel the same sensation blazing in my gut and lean into it without hesitation.
“If we’re at Johnny’s, does that mean he has to clean up everyone’s dishes?” Loren asks.
“Fuck no?—”
“Yes,” Eliza cuts me off.
Rory pinches her plate, lifting it. “I’ll help.”
“Not yet. I’ve got something to talk to Wade about first,” I say, lowering her hand.
He stares at me with his typical blunt, unforgiving gaze. “About what?”
It doesn’t intimidate me anymore. Hasn’t since I was a teenager.
“I need a few days off.” Aurora’s thigh tenses beneath my palm, and I start massaging it. “I’ve got to go with Rory somewhere.”
“You gonna tell me where?”
“You know where, Wade,” Eliza says softly, glancing between Aurora and me.
“You don’t want to go there, Rory,” he grunts.
Eliza turns in her chair and speaks to the other two guys. “Go see if Frost and Joker need anything, yeah? We just need a minute here.”
Loren doesn’t hesitate to get up, not bothering to put his boots on before stepping outside. Thomas, though, he’s always been curious. He’s my friend, a good one at that, but it isn’t my place to answer whatever questions he has.
“There’s some dried apples in the cupboard for them,” I tell him instead, pointing to the one closest to the fridge.
With a huff, he gets up and joins us in the kitchen to grab the bag of treats. When he spins to leave, he says, “This better not be about anything bad. For any of you.”
“Everyone’s fine, Tommy,” Eliza promises.
A jerk of his head. “Fine. Alright.”
Only after the front door snaps shut behind him does Eliza speak again.