Page 144 of Zero Chance

She’d been one of the few girls at the center who’d recognized how painfully shy I was, and she actually approached me a few times to talk, asking questions about my life and making sure I felt included.I’d always appreciated her for that.

Thane smiled but it was full of pain.“Yeah,” he admitted quietly.“She had a talent for making people feel special.”

The way he spoke about her in the past tense sounded like someone who spoke of a loved one who’d died.

“Last I heard from her mom, she was still in Austin, right?”I added, not sure what to say that was safe.

But Thane lifted his face in surprise.“Austin?”he repeated as if that was news to him.

“Well, shit,” Keene said.“No one ever guessed Austin.”Jostling my arm, he asked, “What the fuck is she doing in Austin?”

“I…” Realizing I’d just stepped into a very sticky situation, with everyone staring at me for answers that maybe I shouldn’t be giving, I eased closer to Keene.“I actually don’t know,” I admitted in a small voice.“Mom and I ran into Malena last year at the grocery store, and I was only really listening with half an ear to their conversation.”I glanced at Thane, and he looked so stunned and upset I winced with apology.“I’m sorry; I don’t?—”

“No, it’s okay,” he assured me, waving a dismissive hand and trying to smile, but it looked pained.“But, uh…” I could tell he was trying not to act too eager when he shifted closer on his couch cushion.“This was last year, you said?She was in Austin last year?”

When I nodded, he glanced eagerly between Alec, Keene, and Damien.

Shaking his elbow encouragingly, Alec said, “So she’s probably still there now.”

“And married,” Thane said as he nodded along with Alec before turning back to me.“At least, I think so.Did, uh, did her mom—did Malena mention a husband or upcoming wedding at all?I heard she was engaged.”

“I—” I opened my mouth and glanced toward Keene.The supportive look in his gaze gave me the courage to admit, “She didn’t mention a wedding, sorry.”

“But that’s good, right?”Keene told Thane.“Moms always mention the son-in-law, so that probably means she didn’t get hitched after all.”

But Thane looked like he was in agony.“Well, I don’t want her to be miserable.”But it was obvious he didn’t want to hear that she was married and living out her happily ever after without him either.

An uncomfortable silence filled the living room, and I knew I’d been the one to put it there.I always had a way of ruining a good time.Why, oh why, did I always open my stupid mouth and fill the air with my awkwardness?

Wincing up at Keene, I apologized with my eyes, but he only rolled his as if Thane getting maudlin over Nova was nothing new, and he pressed a reassuring kiss to my temple.

For some reason, that helped.

I blew out a relieved breath as Thane motioned toward the television.“So what’re we watching, anyway?”

Alec unpaused the movie, recapping the first five minutes for Thane, and from there, we fell into a comfortable silence, finishing the film without any more interruptions.

Even though it was an action flick with plenty to keep me awake, I dozed off, slumping against Keene.I was vaguely aware of moments when he would pull the blanket more snugly around me, then bury his nose in my hair and breathe deeply.But he felt so safe and warm and comfortable, I never fully woke either.

Until he squeezed my shoulder at the end credits and kissed my brow.“Hey, darlin’,” he murmured, stirring me back to consciousness.“You have to be home by one tonight, right?”

I jerked upright with a gasp, blurry-eyed but suddenly one hundred percent awake.“What time is it?”

“It’s a little after midnight,” he assured.“We still have plenty of time to get you home.”

I struggled my way out of my blanket, while the rest of the room was standing and stretching, still talking about the show.At some point, Oaklynn had come home and was here too.

“My car’s still on campus,” I said, looking up at Keene in alarm.

He only shrugged, letting me know it was no big deal.“So I’ll take you back to campus and drop you off at it.Or I could take you straight home, and we can get it back tomorrow.”

I opened my mouth to argue both points, but he only smiled, completely unconcerned as he pressed a finger against my lips.“You can say you took Xander home in her car earlier, and one of her roommates drove you back to campus for yours, or this roommate can drive you back home right now.Your choice.”

I exhaled in relief, thinking it was a believable story, and I told him, “I should get my car tonight.”

He nodded.“Then we’ll get your car tonight.”

Slinging an arm over my shoulders as if he’d always done it, he glanced at the others.“We’re taking off.”

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