Page 15 of Pinch

“Just thinking about finding a place with all we’ve got going on.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. You’re welcome here as long as you need.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” My eyes go to the place where she was standing.

“You’re not worried about Haddy?” He leans against the counter. “She’s just stressed about keeping that scholarship. She’s really mad at me, not you.”

I blink back to my friend standing there grinning, his floppy brown hair hanging in his hazel eyes. Mav’s got an easy way about him. It’s difficult to imagine anybody being mad at him for any period of time.

“I think it’s more than that.”

“Nah.” He leans beside me, rinsing his bottle before putting it in the recycling bin. “Haddy’s really focused on finishing school this year. She’s got a lot on her mind.”

A lot ofwrongthings on her mind. Whatever.

“Come on. I’ll show you your room.” I follow him through the living room, grabbing my bag from the couch. “You’ll be upstairs with the girls.”

That makes me stop. “Where will you be?”

He points to a door down a short hall. “That’s my room.”

My lip curls as I look up the dark staircase. “I don’t know. I could probably get my room back at the hotel.”

“You’re not spending another night in a hotel room. You need a home with food and TV, and the girls won’t mind.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” The idea of bumping into Haddy in the hall unexpectedly is not appealing.

“Just be sure to lower the toilet lid. Gina gets all honked off if the dogs drink out of it.”

I glance at the clock. It’s pretty late, and two nights in a hotel room did leave me wanting to be in a house—preferably my own.

“I’d feel better sleeping down here. I could sleep on the couch.”

“We have a perfectly good room upstairs. Come on.”

With a shrug, I follow him to the second floor.

My eyes open before dawn,and it takes me a minute to figure out where I am and what time it is.West Coast, LA, Mav’s house, guest room.

I stretch across the bed. It’s firm but comfortable, and the wooden blinds on the windows do a good job keeping out the light pollution. Still, I can feel it. My heartbeat picks up, and I know I’m not going back to sleep. My body’s still on Eastern time.

Shit, I’m too young for jetlag, but I’ve got three hours before I have to be anywhere. Rolling onto my side, I take out my phone and start to scroll.

I’m not looking for her, but we made all the gossip sites with what happened on Saturday. Of course, some dude with a phone was right there snapping pictures. Someone else even got video, and they all sent them to TMI.

In the video, I watch as flowers fly through the air. Haddy’s hair swirls in a glossy cascade as I reflexively jump forward to catch her. Her hand is on my shoulder, and she looks amazing even in disarray (and a little drunk).

Studying the still photo, I notice things I didn’t have time to notice when it happened. Maverick’s face is stretched in an expression of pure surprise. Gigi is on the float leaning forward with her arm stretched out. Her eyes are wide with horror, and both dogs are in pointer positions like they’ll throw their bodies between her and danger.

The expression on my and Haddy’s faces is more curious. I almost appear pleased, and she almost seems relieved.

Damn, she’s pretty.

And it’s five o’clock in the morning. I’ve got to stoplooking at these pictures and sleep some more or I’ll regret it later.

When my eyes open again, it’s full sun outside, and I’ve overslept.Fuck.

Throwing the blankets aside, I head for the hall bathroom so I can pee and get rid of my morning wood, which has nothing to do with the last picture I saw.