Page 61 of Degradation

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‘You okay with him now?’

She nods but doesn’t elaborate and Mav’s eyes narrow at me.

‘Down, boy,’ I murmur. ‘We buried the hatchet this afternoon.’

Mav nods and takes out his phone.

I roll my eyes and take mine out too. Sure enough, it vibrates in my hand a second later.

Did you lie to her?

No. WTF

She seems happy. She hasn’t been for days. What did you say?

I look up at Daisy who’s staring into space as she mindlessly eats her lunch, and I frown. She does this when she’s tired.

I look back down at my phone, my thumbs tapping quickly.

Jesus. Relax. I said I was sorry. Explained what I could. Promised to make it up to her. Told her I wanted us to get to know each other better.

Did you lie?

No.

He snorts. ‘That’s a first,’ he mutters, and I give him a look.

Fuck you. Anyway, I got her a coat. Not to say sorry, but I guess it’ll help. She doesn’t have one. Was freezing out there this morning.

Mav glances around the room, eyes lingering on her bureau and closet that we know are pretty bare.

She doesn’t have a lot of things.

We should make a list and get her what she needs.

He nods, glancing at her.

She’s tired.

Yeah. But she doesn’t have class again today. Make sure she stays in.

He grunts his response aloud and I crumple up my sub wrapper, throwing it into the trash.

‘I gotta go,’ I say, standing.

She blinks and gives me a vacant grin as if her head is miles away.

I chuckle and lean in slowly, letting her pull away if she wants, but she just watches me curiously and stays where she is. I kiss her on the cheek.

‘Rest,’ I order. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘You’re not coming back?’

Fuck, I love that she looks kind of disappointed.

‘I have class, some stuff at the lab and then wrestling after.’

‘Oh. It’s that late?’

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