Page 84 of Hail Marry
“Anywhere but Canada,” she says immediately. “I hate that place. So much. Worst country ever.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads over my face any more than I can help the way I’m falling in love with her.
Later that night, she comes into my bedroom as I’m preparing to head back to the hotel. I’m really wishing I could stay here all night and just drive to the stadium in the morning, but I can’t. The entire team is required to stay at the hotel.
Tori’s got a toothbrush in one hand andLove Mapsopen in the other. “Here’s a good one.”
I toss a pair of shorts into my duffel, vaguely conscious of the part of my brain pointing out that Tori’s in my bedroom. “What is it?”
She puts up a finger, then leaves the room and spits out her toothpaste. When she comes back, she’s got her place in the book saved with a finger, and she plops on the side of my bed. She’s got a tiny bit of toothpaste at the edge of her mouth, and my mind explores what it’d be like to kiss that toothpaste away. What would it taste like?
“What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?” She looks at me, waiting for my answer.
You.
The word pops into my head unbidden. I frown at it, then force my mind to explore other answers. What can’t I live without?
“Don’t say football,” she says like I’m about to choose a cop-out answer.
“I’m thinking.” I look around my room for ideas. My eyes land on something just to the side of Tori. That’s a safe answer. “My pillow.”
Her brows go up. “Your pregnancy pillow?”
“I haven’t slept without this pillow since I left Canada.”
She looks at the pillow, then back to me. “You’re joking.”
“I mean, this isn’t the exact pillow I’ve always had, but it’s pretty close. And I really can’t sleep without it.”
She stares at me more. “I’m sorry. I’m just…struggling to understand. I can literally sleep anywhere. I have yet to find a physical impediment that can overpower my need for sleep.” She narrows her eyes incredulously, then looks at the pillow again. “Youreallycan’t sleep without it?”
“No. I’ll drift in and out, but actual deep, restful sleep?” I shake my head.
She frowns. “Maybe you should get checked out. See if something’s wrong.”
“I already know what’s wrong.”
She looks at me expectantly.
I shrug a shoulder. “I grew up in a sketchy neighborhood when I was little, so I slept with my mom every night. Probably took up most of the bed. I wasn’t a small kid.”
Tori’s mouth lifts at the corner. “Ya don’t say…”
I smile. “I got used to not sleeping alone. But then my mom started dating Clint when I was ten. He moved in, and I got kicked out of her bed. I couldn’t sleep. I was used to having her next to me. Our neighbor had a baby around that time, and she threw out her pregnancy pillow. I saw it on their back porch and took it. Just to try it out.” I run a hand along the purple fabric, then look up at Tori. “I haven’t slept without it since.”
Tori’s eyes scan my face, and I wish I knew what she was thinking. I just admitted to sleeping with a glorified stuffed animal, so she’s probably got the ick. Especially since she can sleep on a cement floor.
“Itisa really comfortable pillow,” she says, lying back and resting her head on it. “Who knows? You might have found my Achilles’ heel, and now I won’t be able to sleep without it either.”
I smile, but inside, I feel pretty sure I know my Achilles’ heel. She’s snuggling my pillow right now, and I’d give almost anything not to leave her.
But leaving’s the plan. It always has been.
20
TORI
I’ve barely seenLuca in three weeks.
