Page 41 of The Obvious Check

“What? No,” she answers so quickly that if I wasn’t a better man, I might be offended. I’m not. She’s pulling the same face as last night, and she’s here now. This is just her reaction when she’s shocked or doesn’t feel like she deserves something.

“Well, if you think I’m going to let you sleep in your car again, then you’re delusional.”

She shakes her head and wipes her mouth with a napkin. “That’s not an everyday thing. That was just because it was an emergency, and I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Well, now you do know what to do. Come here.”

She shifts in her seat uncomfortably as she stares down at the hash browns.

“It’s okay. I’m sure it will be fixed tonight.”

“And if it’s not? Where are you going to go?” Not the kind of guy to back down, I push the point.

“I can get a hotel.”

With what money?I don’t ask that. I know full well she’s broke, and I’m almost certain if I mention that fact, she’ll reject any help I plan on offering her in the future.

“Oh, is that my phone?” she asks with mock surprise in her voice.

“I don’t hear anything.”

“It’s definitely my phone.” She pushes the chair out, looking at the rest of the food on her plate longingly before shuffling back to her room. I can’t help myself; I watch my shirt flit across her perfectly toned legs as she does. Fist-bitingly hot. That’s what she is, and it’s taking all of my restraint to hold back from shaking the truth out of her or, worse, backing her against the wall and letting my mouth convince her to stay.

She strolls out of the room with a phone so ancient I’m pretty sure it witnessed the first ever Stanley Cup results. Honestly, I think she’d get better reception with two tin cans and some string. “Ah, the maintenance manager just texted. Everything is good. I can go back today.”

Bullshit.

It's another lie, but I don't call her out on it. Not now. I need to take my time with Savannah, chip away at her walls brick by fucking brick until she realizes I'm not another Luke waiting to collect. She hasn't been all in with me like I've been with hersince the moment I saw her dancing. Instead, I lean against the counter, waiting for her to meet my gaze, tapping into a reserve of patience I didn't know existed in my impulsive ass.

“Just know you’re welcome here anytime. Even if it’s two in the morning and you have nowhere else to go. I’d rather you come here and wake me up than sleep in your car ever again.”

She swallows, frozen on the spot.

“Now. Will you have the rest of your breakfast?”

“S-sure.”

I walk over to the front door and grab a lead. “I’m going to take Stanley out for a bathroom break.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure I’m out of your hair by the time you get back.” She jitters. Literally shakes, and I’m beginning to wonder why she feels like such an inconvenience to the world.

“Stay as long as you like. Hell, stay forever, I don’t mind. I’m traveling for a game tonight, but like I said, you’re more than welcome to stay. Stanley would love the company.”

She huffs out a laugh, assuming I’m joking. I’m not.

“Who’s looking after him if you’re gone?”

Before I can answer, my apartment door opens.

“Knock. Knock,” my sister sings as she comes through the door, and I turn to see her holding a bright pink bag, grinning like she’s just won the lottery. “You won’t believe what I got for Stanley.”

Upon hearing his name, Stanley runs to my sister and gives her an equally friendly greeting as the one he gave Savannah last night.

“What are you doing here, Mads?”

She kisses me on the cheek, then walks farther into the kitchen.

“Well, I know you wanted me over tonight, but I saw this at the pet store—” Madison freezes when she sees Savannah. “Oh, I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?”

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