He huffs and then closes his eyes.
“Fine. I’m sorry. We just didn’t talk about any of this, and I’m fucking confused. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“I know. I’m sorry. We should have talked about what would happen when we were found. That’s on me.”
He glances up at me and whispers, “Will we ever get to talk about it?”
“Yeah, how about tonight?” I ask, and Emery nods eagerly, wetting his lips.
“Yeah, good. But until then, I have to keep my defenses up, or they’re going to suspect and then it’s game over.”
“Okay. Yeah, I get that.”
Emery stares at me from across the bathroom and I fist my hands at my sides to keep myself from going to him.
“You need to go,” he mutters, and I nod, moving from the bathroom. Luckily, we’re still alone and I slip onto the hospital bed and wait for Emery to make an appearance. He emerges a few moments later, striding past me and climbing onto his hospital bed, tucking his knees into his chest. He turns his face away from me and stares out the window.
I’m sure it’s so he keeps his eyes off of me.
But even though we just talked about this, it still bothers me.
I want his eyes on me all the time.
A few minutes later, our parents are back and Thomas meanders awkwardly over to where Emery sits and hands him a small bag of candy. Emery eyes them before peeling it open and unwrapping one.
His eyes dart over to me, and he frowns.
“Damn you,” he mouths and then jams the lollipop into his mouth and faces the other way once more.
Hours later, after our lab work comes back and the doctors give us the go-ahead to leave, we head back to the cabin.
And I use the word “cabin” lightly because as we pull up I realize the thing is gigantic. It’s three stories tall and looks like it has over thirty rooms.
“Damn, Thomas. No need to show off. You already got the lady,” Emery says, his leg bouncing as we pull into the three-car garage.
Thomas clears his throat and says, “I wanted enough space for us all to spread out. And I know you mentioned sledding. The backyard of this house has a slope just for that.”
“Really?” Emery asks, his eyes widening.
I knock my leg into his and he meets my gaze. He wets his lips and nods, “Cool, Thomas. I’m excited.”
Thomas puffs up a little and rubs a hand over his mouth, hiding a smile.
We slide out of the car and before Emery can reach for his duffle bag, I sling it over my shoulder and smile at him.
Emery rolls his eyes at me and then I reach out and fiddle with his jacket, because he’s just so damn cute that I can’t help myself. He smacks my hands away.
“Sorry,” I mutter, and Emery just sighs and follows Thomas inside.
My mom eyes me and I feel my cheeks flush.
“Don’t ask,” I say, and she smiles softly at me.
“I won’t,” she says, holding the door to the garage open, and I step inside the warm interior. We trudge up the steps to the main floor and I see Emery leaning against the wall, his fingers flying across his phone screen.
I want him to look at me, but he doesn’t. He just keeps his eyes firmly on his phone. Is he texting Lex?
My mom gestures toward a hallway. “Your room and Emery’s. You two share a bathroom. I hope that’s okay. Thomas and I are staying upstairs for privacy.”