Page 79 of Drop Three

“Yep. He’s awake,” King turns to tell Gus, who is standing beside him.

“He looks like hell,” Gus says, unashamed that the one he’s shit-talking is standing right in front of him with a coaster, ready to tackle his stupid ass to the ground.

Not that a coaster will do much, but it was the closest thing I could find.

“Someone wanna tell me why you thought it would be a good idea to sneak up on the dude with PTSD, banging a cooking pan?” I ask them.

Gus and King give each other a look before whispering, “Shit,” and break out into hysterical laughter. “Well, when you put it like that. You almost put us in the hospital with that coaster, man,” King jokes and Gus falls forward, hunched in deep chuckles.

“Idiots,” I whisper under my breath as I shake myself out of a sleep haze.

I take a moment to check my surroundings. I realize I’m on the couch, but I can’t for the life of me remember why.

Shit. I must have fallen asleep before Navy got home.

I forced myself to stay up and read to make sure she got home safely before I went to bed. One glance at the book on the floor confirms my rough night.

I had a nightmare.The terror of my mortifying dream rushes to the front of my mind.

But also, the image of the most stunning redhead I’ve ever seen settling me at the first touch of her hand replaces the anguish of terror.

Navy was here and she comforted me.

The magnitude of that has my stomach doing this weird fluttery thing that I recall feeling before when it comes to Navy.

More like every time I’m around the woman.

She persistently looks out for me…even when I don’t deserve it.

She also called me B.I remember that clearly.

Hearing her call me the name she once did before shit hit the fan between us felt like winning the fucking World Series. Even in a dead sleep and coming down from adrenaline, my insides leapt with satisfaction.

“You fell asleep out here,” Gus announces as if I didn’t already know that.

I look at Gus. “I did.”

The sound of descending footsteps pulls our attention as Mack and Navy come into view.

I need to pretend I don’t remember her helping me. She can’t know I stayed up for her or that I remember anything after she came home.

That includes Gus, King and Mack.

If I give them any sort of suspicion, they’ll likely relay that to Cal, and that’s the last thing I want. He already saw me show my ass last night for an inexcusable reason, one I’m sure he will be questioning me about when we’re alone.

I’m actually shocked he didn’t ask me about it when Navy left for her date.

Fuck.Her date.With Briggs.

I hope it sucked—for her sake.

No date could ever disappoint in the company of Navy Willow Hayes. I’m beyond repair when it comes to that vibrant and carefree woman.

Holy hell, just look at her.

I’m convinced Navy would look just as stunning in a piglet onesie as she does in head-to-toePrada.

Navy walks in our direction—more like strides with class—in a hot pink sweater dress that meets her knees, with heeled boots that reach the top of her toned calves. She’s elegant and sexy—everything perfect in this world. She has on this necklace that looks like ten are tangled together and I don’t get it, but somehow she makes it look good.

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