Page 78 of Theirs to Hunt (Girls Like Us #1)

Chapter seventy-eight

T he others drifted inside once the smoke got heavy and the bourbon ran low.

Devon peeled off with Bobbie, muttering something about grabbing food on the way home. Grayson disappeared without a word, probably off to pace or glare at shadows until he wrestled his control back.

But Reagan stayed out here. With me.

She sat quiet in one of the patio chairs now, feet tucked under her, my hoodie zipped over that sundress. The cigar was long gone, but her smirk still lingered.

I moved beside her, nudged her knee with mine. "You know he's not sleeping tonight, right?"

She glanced over, eyes lazy, lips curved. "Good. He should suffer."

I laughed, low and warm. "You drive him insane. "

"I know." She didn’t sound sorry.

I leaned back in the chair next to her, staring up at the stars for a second. "You know you’re safe here, right? No matter what... whatever this ends up being, you’re not alone."

Her smile faded. Not gone. Just softer. "I’m still figuring out what ‘safe’ feels like," she said quietly.

I reached over and took her hand. No pressure. No show. Just her fingers in mine, warm and real.

"Well, keep testing it," I said. "Push. Bite. Burn it down if you have to. I’ll still be here."

She turned to look at me. And for a second, she didn’t speak. Just watched me like she wasn’t used to being believed.

"Brooks..."

"Yeah?"

"If I said I wanted to stay right here for a while... just this...?"

I squeezed her hand. "Then I’ll shut up and sit with you until the sun comes up."

She didn’t say thank you. She didn’t need to.

She just curled in a little closer, rested her head on my shoulder, and exhaled.