"Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?" — Unknown

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Chapter 40
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Maggie

It was strange. I never thought there would be a day where I was too afraid to go into my own home.

Here I was, though. Scared shitless.

It wasn't of the house itself, obviously. It was of my brother who was supposed to be at work, but whose car was sitting right outside said house.

Jax never called in, so he either slept through his shift or he was too distraught to go in. Either option pained me just as much, since I knew that it originated back to me.

I jerked my eyes over the front door, again. The one we played rock, paper, scissors over to decide the color. It was funny at the time since I won, but now, every single thing that once brought me joy with my twin, hurt.

I shook my head, shifting my eyes to the doormat. The one that I chose.

No.

I needed to get a fresh set of balls. This was ridiculous.

I just needed to pick up a couple things for the night, then I'd be gone. I contemplated asking Luke to go in for me, but that was way too dramatic and dependent.

"Fuck it," I murmured to myself, pulling the car handle back. "Fuck it."

My boots hit the muddy ground so hard, I feared I'd slip, but I held onto my footing as well as I did my confidence. I crossed the distance riding off the same wave, as well.

The door opened with a soft click, and I stepped inside. The vanilla scent hit first, as it always did. I was more than happy that Luke had went and got the same candles. It helped bring a sense of resemblance.

I glanced over the living room with a quick, close eye. It was clear.

The hallway was, too. The entire space was quiet, with only the television, which was on low volume, to accompany it. Jax must be asleep, then.

I didn't know whether to feel disappointment or relief. I missed him, but I couldn't let that deter the mission. I needed to push, and push until he leaves on his own. It was the only way.

I had to put in a little extra work to keep up with everything that I picked up from my room. I didn't plan on getting much, but every time I thought I was finished, I'd catch something else to bring along.

The rest would be picked up tomorrow by the moving company. I was tempted to get it today, but as soon as I left here, I was meeting Luke for gun training.

I was shocked at how quickly he got one for me, but then I remembered that he said there were some in the car, so he obviously had more than one. That was more than fine with me.

I couldn't lie, though; I was nervous as shit. The only thing stopping me from chickening out was reality, and reality was that that little bullet might be the very thing that determined whether or not I'd eat another chili dog. Smell another candle. Wear another smile. Cry another tear.

Live another day.

So, yeah. I'd take my chances with the gun.

"Mags."

I jerked around so fast, some of the items tumbled from my grasp, and rolled under my bed. I didn't even bother chasing after them.

Jax was standing in my doorway, his arms crossed over a white tank that was ruffled over his chest. Red splotches along his face was paired pained eyes, and dark bags underneath.

His eyes raked over me, carefully. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Still startled, I sucked in a breath, giving my all and more just to push it back out, "I have to go."

I tried to sweep past him, but Jax had my wrist in his hand before I could get too far.

I didn't even bother to try to fight the grip. My eyes fell as his own drilled into the top of my head without relent.

"Where have you been, Maggie?" he asked me, his voice trembling over the question.

"I told you," I muttered. "I've been at Luke's."

His hand slowly fell from me, and back to his side. The other raised to sweep through his hair. "I know but...how have you been? You haven't answered any of my texts or calls."

I squeezed my eyes shut, guilt treading through my body. Even when it finally settled, it was still as heavy to carry.

I was a bad person. I was such a fucking bad person.

I turned my back to him, rushing out in a whisper, "I have to go, Jax." Even with my footsteps, his own fell right on top of mine.

"Wait," he rushed out in desperation. "Maggie, wait. Please, wait."

I didn't. "A moving truck will be here tomorrow."

"What?" he exclaimed, his voice rising with disbelief, but the concern was more evident. "What for? Where are you going?"

"I'm living with Luke, now," I told him before it morphed into a lie. "His roommate left, and the place is really big and close to—"

"No," he snapped over me. "No, okay? You're not moving out, and neither am I."

I shook my head, daring my vision to remain steady. "I am, and you are, too."

At the start of his argument, I jerked around, dropping my things to the sofa. I couldn't walk away when he was like this. I just couldn't.

My steps didn't cease until I was in front of him. The color in his eyes were lit with the glint of unshed tears.

My hand raised to cup his face, catching one of the tears with my thumb. "Jax."

"I'm sorry," he rushed out, woeful eyes clinging to my face. "I'm so sorry."

"No." My heart sunk. "I'm the one whose sorry. I overreacted when you told me—"

"No," he sniffled, shaking his head. "Not about that. A-about what happened, in that house, in that room...I'm sorry that I didn't know for so long, that I didn't figure it out...I'm sorry that I didn't protect you. I should have protected you, I-I should have—"

Refusal rushed to my tongue, "Jax, no. I don't wanna hear that come from you, ever again, okay?"

The tears broke past the barrier, a single one slipping down his red cheek. "It's true. If I would have known, you wouldn't have, he wouldn't have..." He paused to shake his head, swiping at his eyes. "I shouldn't have said the things I did. I should have never underestimated what happened to you. You can't just wake up and forget, and I know—"

My eyes, and heart alike burned at his apology, but it wasn't needed. Not in the slightest, especially about what happened in that house.

"Jax." I stroked his jaw, attempting a smile. The emotions were overwhelming me, only swelling and plucking at my tender heart. "You have no idea, do you?"

His eyes went to me, the pain evident inside.

I had to prop myself up, but when his arms went around me, it helped. I planted my forehead against his, just wishing so terribly bad that I could transfer everything in my head to his this way. That I could just tell the truth and only the truth for once.

"I wouldn't have made it without you, Jax, that night or after," I whispered around the edges of a sob. "I owe you my life, Jax. Literally. I wouldn't even have it if it weren't for you."

He shook his head against mine. "Mags—"

I forced a shaky smile, nodding at him. "Go with Tony, Jax. Enjoy it, and him. Love. Live. Do it all."

"I'm not leaving you—"

I chuckled through the tears. "Are you kidding me?" My fingers swept at his, or mine, or both of our tears. I wasn't too sure, anymore. "You couldn't get rid of me even if you wanted to."

The tease was small, but perhaps it'd be enough to get him off my scent. I wanted more, and I knew he did too, but we couldn't have it. Not right now.

"Tell me you'll do it," I said. "Please tell me that you'll do it."

His eyes fell. "I—"

"Jax," I demanded, softly. "Promise me that you'll take your shot. No matter what."

I knew how unlikely it was that I'd be able to take my own, but to see him get his would be worth a million of mine.

"What about you?" he whispered in the crook of my neck. "What are you going to do?"

"I'll be fine. I'm the strongest bitch around." My words were muffled against his chest, but I figured he picked it up. "You're going to be fine, too. You know it. I know it. And, I'll be cheering you on till the day I die."

I hoped he didn't pick up on the end or the fear that came with it. I didn't know if that day was closer, or farther, and not knowing only made my heart drop.

Finally, his head moved in a nod. Only once, but I got the confirmation, nonetheless.

My hand snaked around the back of his neck to squeeze. I peered back from the hug, forcing his eyes to my own.

"I hate you," I mumbled, sweeping his tears away. "So, so much. You know that I'll never stop."

A bit of hope had been restored through my reassurance, which was better than nothing. It'd work for now.

"I love you, too. Not a thing changes that," he whispered, sweeping a hand down my hair. At it, a ghost of a smile followed up as he mumbled, "You have your hair down."

I chuckled, using my arm to swipe at my face. "Yeah, I couldn't find a ponytail." That wasn't exactly wrong, or right, either. On other days, I would have spent hours searching for a ponytail to keep my hair up rather than go outside with it down.

Now though, when I woke up next to Luke in the morning, I found myself getting up and leaving it down more often than not.

"You look hideous," he sighed around a chuckle. "Like you have a personal trash bag brand, or something."

Our laughter mingled in with one anothers. I decided to let him have this one.

I tried a weak smile once it settled. Reality was settling. "I have to get going."

Luke was waiting for new at home, but it was also because I needed to leave before I fucked this up. Before I fucked us up even worse than I already have.

Disappointment stared back at me, but he nodded, anyway. "Make sure to call me, though, okay? Please don't forget."

"I won't." I didn't plan on a phone call, though. It was too personal, and that was the exact opposite of what we needed, right now.

Jax nodded, his eyes roaming my face for what seemed like a million conversations at once. Instead of voicing them, he settled on stepping closer, and pulling me into his arms, again.

While we embraced one another, I tried my hardest to keep the guilt under control. I knew how bad it looked, and I knew how bad I would react if he treated me the same way. I didn't want to accept that this was a selfish act of mine, but then again, I was a great liar for a reason.

It was a difficult task to detach from his grip, but after a couple of failed attempts, I finally succeeded.

I shot him a thin-lipped smile, before turning back around to retrieve my things. I caught sight of the doubtful expression I was sure he would sport for the next couple weeks, but I couldn't relish in it.

I hurried out of the house so quickly, I made a new record. Just as I took a step to my car, something in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

"Norris."

My head jerked up. Luke was staring back at me, concern concreted over his face.

I blinked, repeating the action over until I came to the realization that Luke was actually standing in front of me.

I lifted my hand, using the back to quickly wipe my tears. "What are you doing here?" I thought he was at his house, but apparently not.

His eyes studied me, his tough gaze lowering the longer he did. I couldn't read past much else, other than the thin line his lips formed when he pressed them together.

His hand stretched out, tugging me closer to him. "Come on."

I threw a glance over my shoulder. "My car—"

"Don't worry." Never releasing my hand, he used his other to pull the passengers door open for me. "I'll have someone tow it to our house."

I nodded, too cluttered to do otherwise. Once we were both in, a sniffle broke free. "Why were you here?"

His hand went to the back of my seat as he reversed out. As soon as we were on the highway, he responded, "I figured something might happen between you two, again. I didn't want you to think that you were alone."

My heart clenched. "Thank you."

I didn't want to have to do it, but having someone here was helpful. I was honestly a mess, but at least I wasn't alone in it. Luke made sure of that.

The silence stretched on. I wasn't even sure where we were going, but I remained quiet. Luke did as well, until he finally broke it.

"Norris," he called out.

I looked to him.

"You wanna drive for a bit?" he asked, nodding at his wheel.

Despite it all, I managed to feel the shock. "What?"

Before he rolled his eyes, humor touched them. "You heard me."

"Wait..." My eyes widened at him. "What?"

To stop from laughing, he darted his tongue in his cheek. "If I have to say it again—"

"You're letting me drive your car," I voiced in disbelief. "Your car? Me? Maggie Norris?" I motioned to him, next. "Hold on. You—the man who doesn't let anyone else even touch the wheel of his car—is letting the girl who cost him thousands of dollars of property, drive said car?"

Luke's mouth twitched as he shook his head at me. "Every single day, you make me want to go up to your college and recalculate your GPA with your professors."

Despite his comment, my disbelief remained in tact.

Luke never let anyone drive his car. Not even Kade or Levi.

I had teased him about it a number of times, subtly but not so subtly suggesting that he let me take his Maserati for a test drive. Of course, I was met with rejection every single time, which was what riddled me so shocked that he offered it himself.

I hadn't even realized he was pulling over until the car started to skid to a stop.

"But...why?" I breathed out. "You don't—"

My speech was cut short as he got out of the car. In only a few strides, he was to my side, pulling me out.

A shrug followed from him. "If it makes you stop making that face..." he paused with a sigh, his gaze raking over mine. "And, I guess, if it makes you feel better, then have at it." He flicked his head toward the drivers side.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, my grin stretched on. I nearly shoved him down as I jumped out of the car. I heard Luke's chuckles from behind me as I hurried to the drivers side.

As soon as I was in, Luke was watching me with such uncertainty, I couldn't ignore it.

"Jesus, Luke," I chuckled, barely even managing to find the time to click the seatbelt into place with my excitement. "You act like I'm about to crash us into a tree or something."

"Because you might."

I bit back a grin, shifting the gears. "Don't tempt me." The engine roared with such power, I felt it stroke and warp my blood with an adrenaline boosted edge.

I darted my excited eyes to Luke, who was watching me with an attempt at holding back his grin. With a shake of the head, he moved his gaze ahead, then nodded at me to take off.

I did, but remained careful and thoughtful of the car and him. Even though I had made the threat, I wasn't going to disrespect his car or his trust in letting me drive it.

I did have fun, though. More than that, actually. Luke, as nervous as I thought he'd be, remained entertained at my enthusiasm. When I'd catch him smiling or chuckling at me, he would move his eyes elsewhere, and I did the same.

Now at a stop light, Luke leaned up from his seat, pointing ahead. "Take a right up here."

Once the light turned green, my foot tapped at the gas until I got to the turn. "Was this just a ploy to murder me?"

"Come on, Norris," he shot back, rolling his eyes. "This would be way too simple."

I laughed. "I'm just saying...you could have done this to butter me up or something." I paused for a second to consider my next words. "You know what would have been even better, though?"

His head pressed back on the headrest, tilting to me with a silly grin. "You shutting those pretty lips of yours for me?"

I jerked a glare over at him, fighting the buildup of heat in my blood at how attractive he appeared. "I was going to say you giving me that real pretty Mercedes of yours."

Luke casted me a silly look. "Is that right?"

"Mhm," I hummed, maintaining a serious expression despite the joke. Driving his car alone was something I never thought would happen, but giving me a Mercedes? It was laughable. "I think you're capable of at least sharing it with me."

"Uh huh," he said, humored. "I'll see what I can do, angel."

I chuckled. If only.

Luke turned his head, pointing ahead. "Turn in when you get to the last building."

I squinted my eyes at the set of buildings, before finally getting to the last. It was a thrift store, but beside it was a little trolley decorated in bright colors, ribbons, and advertisements.

Confused, I turned to Luke. "Ice cream?"

"I'm glad you can read, angel," he teased, leaning up from the seat. "But, yeah. Ice cream."

"For what?"

"For you," he said before he caught himself, and cleared his throat. "And, for me, too."

At his attempt at a cover up, I grinned back at him. "I smell bullshit."

Luke scoffed in return. The strain in it was evident, though. He avoided my eyes, instead forcing all of his attention on his wallet.

"I know that you like ice cream, and that it usually makes people feel better," he muttered, risking a side glance my way. "I want you to feel better, so we're getting ice cream. We're going to sit there and you're going to eat as much as you want of it until you give me a real smile. We aren't leaving until you do, got it?"

I had to refrain from crashing the car from how strained my body became. His generosity only seemed to threaten the feigned strength I thought I built against whatever I was feeling when it came to him. Because I was feeling something. More than something.

Through the tremble of my heart, I smiled. "I get you."

***

"Red?" I questioned.

I heard Luke snort in return. "Fuck no."

I rolled my eyes, rocking my knees from under my chin. "Blue?"

He chuckled. "You're not changing the color of my furniture, Norris."

Luke was in his bathroom, shaving. He'd been in there for a while, and I'd joined him an hour ago, just sitting on his bed and talking.

He claimed that I was annoying, despite the fact that he was the one who technically lured me in here. Every time I attempted to leave, he would start a new conversation up and have me sitting back down.

We decided to wait until morning to start with the guns, which was fine with me. He held up to his promise at the trolley, as well. I wasn't sure how long we stayed there, or how much ice cream we ate, but all I know, was that it was dark by the time we came back, and we both suffered stomach aches as a consequence.

I'd give it to him, though. It did work. Despite how down I was about my brother, about everything in general, Luke managed to edge it all away.

"Oh, come on," I laughed.. "I promise I'll—"

Something clattered to the sink, I presumed. "Shit," he cursed.

I raised my head from my knees, peering at the bathroom door. "What is it?"

"I nicked my jaw," he hissed. "You fucked me up."

"How did I fuck you up?"

"You tell me," he grumbled under his breath, though not well enough, apparently.

I stood up from the bed, and made my way to the bathroom. At my footsteps, he attempted to shut the door, but I stopped him before he could.

Luke was standing in front of the mirror, razor in hand, and half of his face covered in cream. Tiny specks of blood dotted through the cream, which he was attempting to dab at while maintaining a glare at me.

"Sit down," I chuckled, nearly knocking him down as I shoved the door open.

At my request, he scowled. "I'm not—"

With an eye roll, I pressed a hand to his chest until he was forced to sit on the edge of the spacious bathtub. His dark blues glared down at the ground, until I tipped his head back up to me with my fingers.

I snatched the rag from his tightened fingers, rolling my eyes at his stubbornness. Once I had his cut cleaned, I grabbed his razor to finish the rest of his face.

"I can't believe you did that." My expression lifted with thought before I shrugged. "Actually, scratch that. Yes, I can."

"Yeah, well." His eyes moved to the back of me, a glare stuck in the. "It was your fault."

My eyes trailed over the muscle of his jaw. It was hard, and accompanied with sharp cheekbones. He sported it so easily.

Something jumped inside of me. It nearly made me jump at its intrusion, but I quickly shut the door to the feeling before it could go any further.

My brows scrunched tight as I focused on the shave. "How so?" An idea hit, then. Hiding my grin, I flicked my head at him. "Can I see your phone for a second? I need—"

Without hesitation, he stuck his hand into his pocket, coming back up with it. He shook it at me before passing it into my hands. "You know my password."

I blinked back at him. I had used his phone a number of times, since I usually forgot to charge my own. I guessed he figured it out, since every morning that I woke up, it was plugged in. It obviously wasn't me, so it had to be him that did it.

Nonetheless, every single time left me as shocked as before. He always gave it to me with no hesitation.

As soon as my hands were wiped from the cream, I clicked through his phone until I got to the contacts.

I could feel Luke watching me, but I kept half of my attention on the phone and the other half on trying not to laugh. For what he did to me that day at the shop by changing his contact name, I deserved to—

I froze.

Quite literally froze.     

My eyes ran over the screen for clarification that I was seeing it correctly. When it didn't change, I realized that I was.

Back at the hotel, when I used his phone that night to go to sleep, I had scrolled through his contacts for fun while he slept. I had even planned on sending pictures of a baboon ass to them just to fuck with him, but ended up not doing so.

But, I remembered it. I had seen so many contacts of girls that were labeled by hair colors. Some had actual names attached, but there were very few that did. Half of them had even texted him that same night with either pictures of their tits, or of hints of a hookup.

I didn't care at the time, obviously. But, now, I knew for a fact that if they were there, there would be no denying the twist of my stomach, the bile in my throat, the jealousy.

Except they weren't there.

None of the contacts were there. The text messages were gone, too. All of it was gone. When I clicked at his blocked list, it was full of all of the contacts I had seen at the hotel.

The only contacts in his phone were my own, Kade, Levi, and maybe five others of male names I didn't recognize.

My mind was straying for an answer, despite already having one. Maybe I was being conceited. Or, maybe I was following the direction his latest actions had been pointing in. I wasn't sure.

Either way, I was sure that he had deleted and blocked all of those girls because of me. For me. That was the only reasoning that I could think of, or the only one that I wanted to think of.

We did have a deal about not sleeping with anyone else, but I honestly didn't hold him to it. The evil trio's reputation was that for a reason. Two had been tied down, but one was left, and I had thought it would remain that way. That he would remain that way, but now, standing here...I wasn't sure.

The phone screen glared back at me in a mockery, but all I could do was blink. I had lost the original mission at this point, and was only focused on my new discovery.

"You kept talking and shit," Luke grumbled, snapping me out of my shock. It took me a second to catch up to our previous conversation. "Your voice fucks me up."

I drew in a breath for confidence, placing the phone screen down. I picked up the razor instead, despite the shake of my hand.

I bit into my lip to stop them from rising, tilting his face to the side to get that, too. "Really now?" I teased him, bumping into his shoulder with my elbow. "That sounds real soft, Luke."

"Quit doing that," he demanded, knocking into my thigh with his elbow in retaliation. "And, don't think anything of it, Norris. It's not soft, it's called being annoyed."

The redness in his cheeks said otherwise, though.

I bumped into him, again, earning a glare. "Is that right?"

Luke reached out so quickly, I nearly stumbled, but with how tight his hands locked around my waist, I didn't. They drew me in so close, I was practically molding into him.

I begged myself to just breathe. To carry on as if he wasn't making it so fucking hard to do so. To somehow fight the awakened butterflies that were relentless at just the nearness of him.

I forced out a breath. "I wasn't even finished," I grumbled at him, nodding toward his face. I was basically done, but he wasn't paying it any mind.

"Quit bumping into me, right now," he demanded, glaring up at me. The frustration mixed in so well, I it was hard to distinct.

I rolled my eyes. "Quit being stubborn."

Stormy blues glowered back at me. "Quit being a brat." I wasn't sure if it were intentional, but I thought his hands squeezed down on my waist with his insult.

I fought back my own blush in order to confront his. "Well...this brat is the one who's making these pretty cheeks pink." I patted at his darkening cheek that only warmed under my touch. "Isn't that right?"

"Fuck no it's not." His eyes jumped up to mine, narrowing at me. "I don't blush. Never have, and never will. Not for anyone, and not for anything."

Laughter built in my throat. It was cute, especially knowing that it was being used for me.

"It's true," he argued, despite the labor in his words. His eyes squinted at me. "It's hot as shit in here. The heat is high. That's the only reason—"

Amused, I swept the rag down his face. "I call bullshit, pretty boy."

"Yeah?" he dared, passing a look of malice over me that only thickened my laughter. "Well, you're not doing too good yourself, Norris."

On my waist, his fingers pressed into the lining of my pants. With the feel of them, they might as well have been digging into my skin. A shudder cracked through me at it.

"I have no idea what you mean." I turned to place the rag down, but more so to hide the growing blush in my cheeks.

Luke wasn't having it, though. His fingers snaked up, his index tapping under my chin to turn me back to him.

"Bullshit." A silly grin grew across his lips as he flicked his head at me. "You know, you and that little snort of yours are going to haunt me in my sleep, I just know it."

"I don't snort."

"You do," he smirked. "Every time I make you laugh, I hear it. It's too late to hide it now, angel."

I shook my head, attempting a glare that wobbled. "You're an idiot."

"Uh huh," he mocked me, dropping his hand back to my waist, again. His grin only grew. "Well, this idiot has that pretty face of yours red as shit, right now, Norris. Ironic, isn't it?"

I moved my eyes elsewhere, mentally cursing myself. This man was toying with me in ways I never even considered possible. It was infuriating, exhilarating, everything.

I wouldn't let him have this one, though.

I pushed all of my cockiness upfront for this. "Guess what else this brat made you do?"

The smugness in him grew. "Tell me."

I tapped his cheek that would be matching my own soon. "She made said idiot so obsessed with her that he deleted and blocked all of his girls without even having a request from her." At his shock stricken expression, I swapped grins with him. "Ironic, isn't it, pretty boy?"

I was right. His blush deepened so quickly, it looked painful.

Luke's head shook at my claim, panic crossing his expression. "That's..." His eyes dipped as he released a huff. "That's not true—"

"Mhm?" My ego only grew, as did my laughter. "I think you're a goner, Luke. I told you a few weeks with me, and you'll—"

My words were cut from their stem as he moved forward. One second, I was making fun of him, then the next, he was hauling me over his shoulders.

This time wasn't the same as the lasts. Instead of anger, I found myself having to fight back the humor above all else.

"Luke," I forced out past my giggles. "Put me down, you idiot."

His hand was locked around the backs of my knees, holding me to him. Just as I managed to writhe around, I was being placed down on his mattress.

I didn't even have time to settle in the comfort of the mattress springs, because as soon as I was down, he was, too. His body went over mine, next. The frustration, the tease, and the challenge made his eyes shine down at me.

"Fine," he insisted, his dimples deepening as he grinned. "You wanna be funny, right?"

His fingers crept down the length of my body until he got to my most ticklish spot. It clicked, then, his payback.

"Luke," I squinted my eyes at him, laughing through my threat. "Don't you dare—"

It was too late. His thick fingers only warmed a heavier laugh from me as he tapped and pricked at my sides. I was nothing but a puddle of laughter under him seconds in.

"I can't," I wheezed out as his fingers sped up. "Luke—"

His humored face hung over mine. "Say you're sorry, Norris."

My head shook, but with my giggles, I wasn't too sure of anything. "Fuck you."

Luke's laugh vibrate through my chest as he sped up, managing to bring tears to my eyes from the laughter. I wasn't sure of how much more I could handle with the way he was going.

His laughter had joined my own, mixing in almost effortlessly. I heard it just fine by itself though, so deep and silky, yet so soft and heartwarming. It did something to me.

"Truce!" I shouted out loud enough for him to catch it. "I give up, okay? You win."

Luke paused, tipping his head up to me with a big smile. "You give up?"

"I swear I do." I nodded, sweeping at the corners of my eyes with a tickled sigh. "But, I'm not saying sorry."

His laugh fell into a chuckle as he leaned over me. With him not having a shirt on, it was surely a task to keep my eyes above water long enough to keep my sanity. "I'll take it this one time, but only because I got to hear the witch cackle."

Luke reached forward, sweeping back the hairs that had slipped into my face. Gently, he tucked them behind my ears, his smile softening over. His pretty dimples only added to the final punch in my head. 

My body was still calming from the laughing fit, but him being so close wasn't making it any easier. "Weren't you the one who said that it was your favorite?"

His face scrunched up at me, a scowl building. "I never said that."

I rolled my eyes, sinking my gaze down below. What I saw nearly made my heart start.

In the moment, I hadn't even realized that I wrapped my legs around him. I was so indulged in him that I hasn't caught hold of it until now.

Luke didn't seem to mind. He was staring down at me, a smile still lighting his handsome face. It wasn't one of cockiness or full of smug, it was simply a smile so cute, I had to avert my gaze elsewhere to avoid staring forever.

A pleasurable sting kissed at every inch of me. I breathed out once, letting my legs fall to the mattress. Emptiness took its place, but I managed to pull myself together by scooting to the side of the bed closest to the wall.

"Bed time." A shaky smile touched my lips as I motioned to the spot next to me. "Come on, get in."

Luke chuckled at me, completely oblivious to the buzz he'd given me from that alone. "Bed time?"

"Mhm." I pretended to fluff the comfortable pillow as a distraction. "I'm tired, so you are too, now."

"Never in my fucking life did I think I'd be letting someone tell me that I have to go to sleep at ten o'clock at night." He rolled his eyes, but seeped into his spot, anyway. "What the fuck happened to me?"

I chuckled, shrugging. "Welcome to your new life, then, pretty boy. I hope you enjoy it."

A failed glare came at me, as well as a grumbled, "You're such a brat."

Gently, he tugged me to him. The warmth of his comfort surrounded me in a way that I'd never believed in before he created it for me.

Luke wrapped an arm around my waist, tucking me into his figure. His free hand swept down to grab at the blanket I brought from home, tugging it over us.

Either I was losing it, or he made sure to give me more of the blanket than himself. I wasn't sure of quite anything when it came to this part of the night. I wasn't quite sure of anything when it came to him in general, anymore, I think.

This was another.

Just as sleep began to call me with its whispers, I thought...I was sure, I swore, that I felt his lips press the softest of kisses to the top of my head, and his voice follow up into a whisper of, "I'm gonna love it."
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They're the cutest! 🤍 you're gonna love these two asses as roommates!

You guys who missed 'certain' people are going to laugh and enjoy the next chapter soo very much! I might publish it early just because I lack self control when it comes to hiding anything, but if I don't, I will have it out soon!

Have an amazing rest of the week, beautifuls!🤍