Page 135 of What Are the Chances
Numbly I watched her climb the front steps and head inside, all the while wondering if we’d just royally fucked up for a second time around.
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Ground rules
RILEY
If it wasn’t for the heavy painkillers, I doubt I would’ve slept a wink last night. With groggy eyes I stomped into the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee machine. It had already been geared up for the day, which meant Parker must be up.
I hadn’t heard her. Then again, I was so lost in my own thoughts and high on pain meds that fireworks could’ve erupted in my yard and I doubt I would have noticed.
Whenever I thought of Will an invisible ache pressed against my chest. I’d messed up so badly. The first thing I’d done this morning was reach for my phone. He hadn’t messaged or called.
As much as I urged to contact him, I needed to give him time. He felt betrayed. I understood that. Only I had no clue whether he could forgive me.
“Jesus, Tanner,” I groaned when he strolled into the kitchen in nothing but a pair of boxers. “We’re going to have to set some ground rules if you staying over is going to become a regular occurrence.”
He paused. “Like?”
“Pants for starters.”
He bumped me out of the way to reach the coffee machine.
Looking at him alone was enough to make me shiver. I instinctively tugged my fluffy robe tighter. It was finally snowing outside, but there wasn’t anything magical about it. The sky was dark, making it seem as though it was still partway through the night and not nine a.m.
“How are you feeling?” Tanner checked.
“Tired.”
“Need some more painkillers?”
I shook my head. I was done with those now. I’d rather put up with the pain than have a groggy head.
“Are you feeling chilly? Confused? Do you have a temperature? Is your heart beating rapidly?”
Tanner fired off the sepsis checklist questions.
“I’m fine,” I exhaled. “I’m just...”
I dropped my head in my hands, groaning loudly. My state of mind wasn’t a beginning symptom of sepsis. It was all due to missing Will. Less than twelve hours and I was already this pathetic.
“Caufield slipped into my DMs last night,” Tanner said. “He’s been messaging me non-stop all night.”
I looked up. “He has?”
Tanner nodded. “Checking how you are. How you’re feeling. Whether you need anything.”
That admission made my heart beat a little slower. At least I knew Will was thinking about me as much as I was thinking about him.
“Have you heard from him?” Tanner asked.
I shook my head.
“Can you blame him? I’d be pretty fucking pissed too. That was not a good way for him to find out about our fucked-up family tree.”
I groaned again. I didn’t need the reminder. Tanner wasn’t telling me something I hadn’t already told myself countless times overnight.
Parker walked into the kitchen, dressed in one of Tanner’s tees. It barely hit her midthigh. I hoped she had underwear on beneath it.
