Page 90 of Restitution

She cries a lot. She’s very open about her emotions. She gets mad and yells; she cries and screams. And she begs my best friend every hour to come home to her. But he can’t.

Base hasn’t spoken much either. He’s busy with the Russian drama. I get it – he had a life outside of my bullshit, and I respect the hell out of him for saving my sister. And Dez is on his way home too. He and Tylar will be back in time for Jason’s funeral.

My phone buzzes on my dresser, and I try to sit up, but the dogs are on top of me. I slide them off me – somehow they stay asleep – and reach for my phone.

Freckles: Why are you awake?

Me: Who’s the stalker now? I’m watching TV. You want to come up?

Freckles:I might accidentally fall asleep in your bed though.

Me: Then I’ll let you sleep in my bed.

Freckles: Only if you want me to.

Me: I do.

Freckles: Please don’t start vacuuming your curtains and freaking out again. I’m coming up now.

I frown at the screen in confusion, then it clicks that my mum must’ve told her she walked in on me doing just that when Stacey was coming up when we were teens.

The fucking traitor.

Then there’s a pressure on my chest, because Stacey is coming up here, and I have no idea what the fuck we are or what we’re doing.

I drop my phone and stand, pacing the room with my hands in my hair until I get dizzy and have to sit down. When the knock on the door comes, I grab the face covering and secure it in place.

After I glance over my room to make sure it’s tidy, the balcony doors wide open to eliminate the smell of weed, I close my eyesand take a deep breath. My lungs give up as I swing the door open to the girl I’ve been obsessed with since I was fifteen.

She wears silk pyjama shorts and a top, and fluffy slippers with dog faces on them. She smiles sleepily and walks in as I step aside. The dogs run over to her – she crouches to see them before flopping down on the bed.

“I would say I missed your room, but I slept in here for weeks.”

“Why?” My brow arches as I close the door and lock it.Wait, is it normal to lock the door if it’s only a friend?

She shrugs, star-fishing. “Like I said, I missed you. I felt close to you, even though you weren’t here.”

“Sounds a little psychotic and obsessive. I think you spent too much time with my dad.”

My dad. Who’s with—

I blink away the thought and cross my arms. Her smile stays on her mouth, but it leaves her eyes. “Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to hang around with the dogs.” She pets them and shifts so Hopper can rest his head on her arm.

I snort. “They still like me more.”

“Debatable.”

“Get properly into bed and I’ll put something on,” I order as I grab the TV remote and turn it on.

“Are we actually watching something? Can’t we just go to sleep? It’s four in the morning.”

I smirk and pull the duvet back. “I knew you just wanted in my bed.”

She laughs softly, and fuck, I missed that.

Wait. Are we flirting?

We are.