Crave (The Gibson Boys 3)

I make my way to the steps leading to the one-room apartment above Crave. The railing wobbles under my grip, and I wonder if it’s some veiled warning by the heavens not to keep going. Like the brainiac I am, I continue up the rickety steps.

A little window is positioned next to the door. The plaid curtains are split in the middle and I peer through. It’s pitch black inside.

My heart twists in my chest as I remember many nights here with Mach. In high school, when his uncle still owned Crave, we’d come up here and have poker nights with our friends. I made my first batch of cupcakes in the oven in there for Machlan’s birthday and spent so many afternoons curled up against him while he watched football.

As I turn to go back to my car, I imagine Kallie’s breathy moans. The sound is overshadowed by a set of tailpipes coming up the side street. I stand still, not moving a muscle, as I see a truck roll up to the curb and stop.

Peck jumps out. “What the hell are you doing, Had?”

“Hey! What are you doing out so late?”

“Going home. What are you up to?”

I glance over my shoulder and get an idea. “Come up here and give me some help.”

“Um, what exactly do you need help with?” He rocks back on his heels. “Why don’t you come on down from there?”

“I’m not going to jump.”

“Yeah, well, one of us might die even if you don’t, and that person probably isn’t you.”

I flip him a look. “Come on. I need some help.”

Peck looks at the sky, working his neck back and forth.

“Come on, Peck,” I say again. “I haven’t even told you what I’m thinking.”

“Why are you not at Cross’s again? I know you have a bed over there, and Kallie will probably even make breakfast.”

I lean on the rail. My arms almost slide off because of the dew dotting the surface. “Imagine listening to your brother go at it with his girl all night.”

Peck flinches. “Got ya.”

“See? I can’t listen to that. It’s disgusting, for one, and two … well, it’s disgusting.”

He glances over my shoulder, and then, with more trepidation than I’ve seen him have, he looks back at me.

I grin super wide in hopes it warms him up to my idea. “You don’t think Mach would mind if I slept up here, do you?”

He runs both hands down his face and mutters a few unintelligible things.

“Fine,” I say. “I’ll just go home with you.”

His eyes pop open. “The fuck you will.”

I got him. “So you propose, what? I sleep in my car? That sure sounds safe. Machlan’s gonna love you for suggesting that.”

“Now, I didn’t say that.”

“What did you say then, Peck? You won’t help me sleep here,” I say, motioning behind me. “And you won’t let me bunk with you.”

“Hadley. I. Don’t. Want. To. Die. Okay? I haven’t made it to the Wheel of Fortune yet. I haven’t made love to Molly. I haven’t even gotten my own dog yet, man,” he whines. “Don’t make me do this.”

“Stop being a baby.”

“But I am a baby.” He looks at me with the biggest set of puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. “Let me go home and forget this all ever happened.”

“Why?” I laugh. “Why are you acting like I’m asking you to rob a bank?”

“I’d rather rob a bank than help you break in to this apartment.” He gulps.

“You’re thinking of this in the wrong way. We aren’t breaking in. He’d totally let me if I asked—”

“So why don’t you ask?”

“Because then he’d come over here and just, bad things, Peck. Bad, bad things.”

I see the start of a grin, so I keep going.

“Let’s operate as if I did ask, knowing he’d approve, and he doesn’t even have to know. It’ll be our secret.”

“I promised Mach I was oblivious to your plans tonight, and that if I did find out anything, I’d tell him.”

“You don’t have to tell him anything,” I say.

“But bad, bad things will happen if I don’t.” He laughs. “Damn you.”

Propping both hands on my hips, I stare at him from my perch. I can see him break a little more with each second that passes. But after almost a minute, he still hasn’t given in, so I start toward the stairs.

“Fine. It’s your house then,” I say. “I like to sleep on my right side, and if I start to cuddle—”

“Fuck.” He storms toward the stairs, shaking his head the entire way. “This is going to hurt. You know that?”

“I don’t think so. The window looks fairly easy to pry open. I just need someone to boost me up there—”

“I meant for me. Machlan’s gonna milk my pain for all it’s worth.”

I swat him on the shoulder and lead him to the window. “Oh, he is not, you big baby. Just pretend this never happened.”