Page 85 of Well That Happened

Oh. There it is. Realization hits her like a slap.

“I didn’t mean—” she starts.

Hunter laughs, bitter. “Don’t give me the ‘it just happened’ speech. We all heard how it happened.”

She flinches.

He grabs his mug and storms out, leaving a trail of silence behind him.

Rilee turns to me, stunned. “I didn’t think he’d care this much.”

I set my cup down a little too hard. “It’s not just about him. This affects all of us.”

Her eyes go wide. “You too?”

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m not mad. But it’s… complicated.”

“So…” she says.

“So,” I say.

“Everyone really overheard?”

I keep my expression level, just the faintest trace of amusement tugging at my mouth. “You weren’t exactly quiet.”

She groans and covers her face. “Oh my God.”

“Mm.” I sip my coffee. “Thin walls. And you’re… vocal.”

She groans louder. “You arenothelping.”

“I’m not trying to.” I let the pause linger before I add, “Did he at least take care of you?”

Her eyes fly to mine. “Grayson.”

I shrug. “You woke up half the house. I think I deserve to know if it was worth it.”

There’s a beat of silence. Her cheeks go pink. Then—reluctantly—she nods.

“Yeah,” she mutters. “He… did.”

I nod once, like we’re trading secrets instead of emotional landmines. “Good.”

She watches me carefully now, trying to read my mood. I don’t give her much.

Because yeah—I’m the quiet one. The steady one. The one who listens.

But I’m also the one who heard every damn sound and couldn’t sleep all night because of it.

But Rilee looks like she’s about to crumble.

I step forward, gently turning her by the shoulders. “Are you okay?”

She hesitates, then shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

I pull her into my chest, arms wrapping around her without a second thought.

We just stand there.

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