And he wanted it from me.

I couldn’t deny him that. I didn’t know much about Declan’s past, but I could feel that he’d gone through a lot. Mine had been idyllic in comparison. Maybe it was wrong, but I couldn’t say no to him.

“You can have ten.” I set the timer on my phone.

He sighed, his muscles relaxing. I put my hand over his arm and settled in. If comforting him was wrong, then I would just be wrong.

Declan

When I woke up, all that was left of my wound was a pinkish scar. Which was great, but hardly registered. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how amazing Lou had felt in my arms.

I’d been right. She was soft everywhere.

Well, I wasn’t sure about everywhere, but I wanted to find out. Test my hypothesis until it was theory. You know, for science.

I didn’t want to get up, because once I did, I’d have to deal with everything that happened yesterday. Given a choice between harsh, cold reality and a warm, cozy bed, my arms wrapped around sweet curves and silky skin and it was no contest.

But we had to face the day. I quickly showered and shaved, throwing on a button-up shirt, slacks, and a tie Zoey had bought me that she said brought out my eyes. I needed a little of my sister close this morning. My hand stilled knotting my tie. Shit. Zoey.

I scrambled for my phone, which I’d left in my room last night. Two missed calls. I glanced at the time—we had to leave in ten minutes. I hastily hit the Call Back button.

Relief hit me when she answered. “Hey, Zo.”

“That’s all I get?” Zoey screeched and I held the phone away with a wince. My sister wasn’t much of a yeller, but when she got really freaked out, she could hit the higher decibels. “You’re barely articulate last night, then you don’t answer my calls, and now all I get is a ‘hey’?” She made her voice gruff and lower on the “hey,” doing a terrible impression of me.

I ran a hand through my hair, grabbing on to the back of my neck. “Fuck, Zo. I’m so sorry. It’s—been a lot. Last night. I kind of forgot.” As I tried to figure out how to coherently sum up my evening, complete silence filled the line. I had to check the screen to see if she was still there. “Zoey?”

“You forgot?” Her voice was soft. “Dad is out, that bitch is out, and you forgot. They’re both walking around free as birds right now.” She sucked in a breath. “Remember when I was little and got scared?”

Shit. It wasn’t an abrupt subject change like it sounded. Zoey thought I was compromised. When we were younger, we’d come up with a way to let the other one know if we were alone in our respective heads. I wasn’t, but Lou wasn’t the person Zoey was afraid of.