Page 45

“You’re dangerous, Laney.”

I stiffen, my heart lurching. “What?”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my ear. “You heard me.”

I lift my head, peering up at him. “How am I dangerous?”

His eyes darken, his fingers tightening slightly on my arm. “Because every time I let my guard down with you, I don’t wanna pull it back up.”

My throat goes dry.

I open my mouth—maybe to deny it, maybe to dare him to let it down completely—but then he shifts, rolling slightly so that his face is inches from mine.

The air changes.

The playful ease from before is gone, replaced with something heavier.

Something electric.

His gaze flickers to my lips.

My breath catches.

I could close the distance.

I want to.

But before I can move, he exhales sharply, pulling back.

He scrubs a hand over his jaw. “C’mon, darlin’.” His voice is rougher than before. “We should head back.”

I blink, trying to catch up. “Oh. Yeah. Sure.”

I push up from the blanket, ignoring the ache in my chest, ignoring the feeling that I just let something slip through my fingers.

Because I know, deep down—

Whatever this is, Eddie is fighting it.

And I don’t know if I have the strength to fight it, too.

17.Eddie

I pullup outside Lucas’s house and kill the engine, staring at the cozy-looking home with its wraparound porch and the sound of Joey’s laughter echoing faintly through the air. It feels wrong to barge in when they finally have some peace, a rare moment outside the hospital walls. But I need to talk to him. I need to say this out loud to someone who will understand what the hell is happening to me.

The front door swings open before I even knock. Lucas stands there, broad as ever, his arms crossed over his chest, an easy grin tugging at his lips. “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

I smirk, shaking my head as I step onto the porch. “Miss me, buddy?”

“Like a hole in the head.” He claps me on the shoulder, then jerks his chin toward the inside. “Come on in.”

The house smells like home-cooked food and something sweet—maybe cookies. Sam’s touch is all over this place, making it warm, making it theirs. I hate that I’m about to throw something heavy into the middle of it, but I have to be honest with my best friend.

“You want a beer?” Lucas asks, already moving toward the fridge.

“Yeah, sure.” I take the cold bottle he hands me and twist off the cap, rolling it between my fingers.

Lucas narrows his eyes. “What’s up?”