I giggle, to which he responds with the biggest grin ever.

“I like seeing you smile,” he tells me. “And I think Jax does, too.” He glances at Jax, and I instinctively follow his gaze.

He’s already looking at me with a strange expression on his face.

“Yeah,” he says quietly, his gaze carrying mine. “She’s—It’s beautiful.” He blinks then, his cheeks turning a little bit pink.

I would find it adorable, except mine are feeling a bit warm myself.

“Did you two seriously just blush at the same time?” Hunter questions amusedly. “That’s seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, BFF—or should I say, BFFs.”

Jax lets out a heavy sigh then steps into the room, pulling me with him.

The room is average-sized, with dark hardwood floors, blue walls, and a king-sized bed and matching dresser. On the left wall is a doorway that appears to lead to a bathroom, and another doorway is to the right that looks like it goes to a closet. Framed photos line the walls, pictures of landscapes, cities, and a window covered with rain, all of which I’m guessing Hunter took.

“We can paint the walls a different color, if you want,” Jax says as he steers me into the middle of the room.

“The blue’s fine,” I assure him. “Are you sure you want me to stay in here? I mean, whose room is this even?”

“It’s a guest room,” Hunter explains, leaning against the doorframe, watching me with his arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face.

“Oh.” I chew on my bottom lip. I can feel it, deep down inside me, something I haven’t felt in a long time.

Want.

I want to stay here.

In this room.

I want something to belong to me.

I want this.

And that is fucking terrifying.

“Where will your guests stay, if I’m crashing here?” I glance between Jaxon and Hunter.

“We never really have guests,” Jax assures me with his grey-eyed gaze fixed on me. “You’re the first, actually.”

“She’s not a guest,” Hunter clarifies, stepping toward us. “She lives here now.”

“You know I know that,” Jax says to him then looks at me. “I don’t think you’re a guest.”

“Technically, I am,” I stress. “Sure, I’m living with you, but this isn’t my house. And I promise I’m going to act like the perfect guest.” I flash him my biggest smile, but on the inside, my stomach is twisting into knots.

I worry how much I want this.

Worry that it will all get taken away.

“I should probably call my aunt and let her know I won’t be coming home tonight.” To be honest, I doubt she would even notice if I wasn’t there. My uncle, on the other hand, would probably notice way, way too much. “I need to borrow one of your phones,” I add then frown, realizing something. “Shit, I don’t know her number.”

A small smile touches Hunter’s pretty face. “You’re cute.”

I crinkle my nose, totally confused. “What? What the hell did I just do that was cute?”