Page 161 of The Illicit Play

Images of Blake flash through me.

“It was like I had no control. I had to give in to my feelings for him or perish.” Her laughter is soft and sleepy. “He’s the one, Grady. And even though you’ll always hold a special place in my heart…” Her words start totumble together as her eyes slip shut. “He owns it. Just like I own his.” She goes silent for a beat, and I’m pretty sure she’s fallen asleep until her eyes blink back open and she stares right at me. “I need him. Please, find Mac. I just want Mac.”

And then she’s gone again, her last effort to get what she wants draining her completely.

Bending over her, I reassure myself that she’s still breathing before lightly pressing my lips to her forehead.

I get it now.

I understand that feeling of cosmic energy and no control.

That’s exactly what I feel around Blake.

And sure, when I first met Teah, I was drawn to her. We were friends. We had a blast together, and then that friendship turned into something more.

It was fun and easy and comfortable…

But it wasn’t cosmic.

It wasn’t all-consuming.

Not like it is for her and Mac.

Not like it is for me and Blake.

An urgency to see her suddenly overwhelms me, and I dart out of the hospital room, scanning the corridor.

She’s not back yet. Dammit.

Glancing over my shoulder, I spot Teah’s parents down by the nurse’s station.

I’ll go have a quick chat with them, let them know that Teah needs Mac. Hopefully they’ll relent for the sake of their daughter.

And then I gotta go.

I gotta find Blake and get out of here.

I need to tell Wily that this thing with his sister is no rebound—it’s the real deal. I’m gonna fight for her. Whatever it takes. Whatever I have to do.

I am going to make it clear that Teah may always have a small piece of my heart, but it now beats for Blake.

CHAPTER 56

BLAKE

It’s stupid.

I’m stupid.

Iknowthis, yet still I drive through the night, negotiating these winding roads in Wily’s big-ass truck. The built-in navigation system takes me to the parking lot I left only a few days ago.

I park in exactly the same spot Grady did and stare out at the darkness.

Hiking into the forest at this time of night is insane.

I’d be an idiot to do it, but my logical brain can shut the hell up, because Ineedto get into this forest right now.

I knew myself in this place.