Page 48 of Against the Clock

“Because I don’t cuddle men, and even if I considered it to keep you from having to sleep in the chair, your snoring is enough to make me reconsider.”

Quinn covered her mouth and snorted as a laugh escaped.

Mike’s head whipped toward her before he pointed a finger between us.

“That’s the real reason you don’t want me in there—isn’t it?”

Quinn’s head fell back, showing off her long neck as her hair tickled her back and the beautiful sound of laughter floated through the air.

“It’s sooo loud!”

“You know what—screw both of you,” Mike said playfully, pretending to be angry without letting his laughter slip through.

After a few minutes, the laughter subsided and Quinn yawned.It was late, and I didn’t want to spend the entire night trying to figure out sleeping arrangements with all of my new roommates.As long as we kept Rosie safe, that was all that mattered.

“You can take the couch tonight,” I offered.“I’ll sleep in the chair.”

“That chair will hurt your back,” Quinn protested.

“I’ll be fine.Trust me, I’ve slept on worse.”

“You’re welcome to sleep in the room with us,” she offered quietly, almost afraid to let Mike hear her.

He clutched a hand to his heart and acted wounded.

“You’ll let him sleep in the room with you, but not your own brother?I’m appalled!”

“He doesn’t snore like a freight train,” she laughed.“We all need sleep, and that’s the best way for us to get it.”

“Fine,” Mike grumbled and ran his hands through his hair.“But don’t you try anything funny with her....”

He grabbed his duffle bag from the floor and headed to the bathroom, leaving Quinn and me in awkward silence.

Once he was gone and we heard the door close, we both relaxed.

“You don’t have to sleep on the floor,” she said softly.“I’m sure there’s plenty of room for all three of us in the bed.”

“Na, that’s okay.I’ll sleep better if I’m by the door.If anyone comes in through the window they’ll have to break it first, and we’ll hear it.”

She nodded her head and started blinking rapidly to keep her tears away.

I stepped forward and pulled her into me, holding her tightly.

“It’s going to be okay,” I assured her.“Nothing is going to happen to her with all of us here tonight.It’s best to get as much rest as possible so you’re ready to go tomorrow.She can’t afford for you to be exhausted.”

“I know,” she said, her words muffled against my chest.“I’m so scared.”

I didn’t say anything because anything that I would have said would have been a lie.I could’ve told her that there was nothing to be scared of or that we could handle anything that was thrown at us, but that wasn’t something that I could guarantee.While I hoped we would be prepared for whatever happened, uncertainty gnawed at me, making me question everything I thought I knew.

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