Page 104 of Reach Around

I hit Lynsie’s contact and put her on speaker. The phone rings twice before she picks up, far too chipper for this hour.

“She lives!”

“Barely.” My voice is gravel and regret. “Sorry I didn’t call you back last night. I was kinda drugged out of my mind.”

“Oh, I bet you were a lot of fun.”

I swallow. “I told Brogan I loved him.”

Silence.

“Youdid not.”

“I did.”

“That’s huge! What did he say?”

“He said he loves me, too.”

Another beat of silence, and then, “Girl.”

I sigh. “Don’t worry. I’m not holding him to it. I was high. He was humoring me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I woke up alone, Lyns. It’s okay. Really. I’m fine.”

“Joely…”

“I said I’m fine.” But I’m already blinking back stupid tears. “I’ll be even better once I get my pain meds.”

Outside, I hear the familiar rumble of his truck. I freeze.

“Gotta go. I’ll call you back.”

“Joely—”

Click.

I toss the phone aside and swing my legs over the side of the bed, aiming for my crutches like a girl in a bad rom-com. Except I’ve got a bad ankle, a giant T-shirt with questionable pizza stains, and exactly one functioning knee. I’m halfway to toppling over, and actually considering crawling when the door swings open.

“Hold up,” Brogan says, stepping inside. “I’m here. Thought you’d sleep longer. Sorry.”

He’s holding coffee and a bakery bag.

My traitor heart does the thing again.

“Breakfast?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even.

He grins. “Coffee. And bear claw. Because I remember the meltdown of ‘21 when you sprained your wrist and Molly’s was out.”

And just like that, my heart reattaches itself and goes full sprint.

I open my mouth to make a sarcastic remark, but my bladder beats me to it with a not-so-gentle nudge.

“Uh… emergency,” I mumble, nodding at the bathroom door.

He doesn’t hesitate. “Let’s go, JoJo.” He tucks an arm under my shoulders, cradling my cast, and practically carries me to the bathroom, crutches dangling uselessly from his other hand.

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