Page 31 of Fearlessly Us

Sarah may be too pretty to be a skinsuit, but I’m way too pretty to do work ahead of time when an all-nighter does the job just fine.

Me

I just died a little inside.

Mads, get in the car. Soph, go down to your lobby and wait. Sarah, make sure that bathroom door is locked and don’t leave until they get there.

Maddy

[saluting emoji]

Already on my way.

Sophie

Heading to the elevator.

Sarah

I’m sitting on the toilet seat watching funny videos of people falling.

Maya

Videos of what?

Sarah

Search “funny falling videos” and in thirty seconds you’ll be cackling, I promise. Bonus points if the videos are of kids.

Emmy

I think we need to pause and consider all the things we’ve learned about Sarah in the last ten minutes.

Sarah

I have hidden depths.

Maya

I’ll fucking say. Don’t think we won’t be discussing those depths during our next taco and tequila night.

“You okay in there, Catie?”

I jolt at the sound of Drew’s voice from outside my bedroom door, my phone flying out of my hands and landing with a thud. Freshly showered, death cramps reduced from the seventh circle of hell to somewhere around the middle of purgatory, and with a problem to solve, I forgot he was still here.

I assumed after he plunked his Renegades hat on my head, pulled the brim low to hide my face the way I asked him to, and wheeled me out of the hospital to his car in a stolen wheelchair, Drew would drop me off at home and leave. But when he pulled up at my house an hour ago, he ordered me to stay right where I was until he came around to help me out of the car, and then he walked me to the door, his hand on my back the entire time. Once he got that far, he just strolled his way inside.

One second he was talking my ear off about a new sourdough recipe he was dying to try and the next he was taking my hand and guiding me to my own stairs, telling me my teal living room accent wall was so fucking cool, and to take the shower I mentioned wanting when we were in the car. Then he asked me if I preferred to rest on the couch or in bed and what my non-coffee drink of choice was. It all happened too fast for me to process, and I suspect that was exactly his plan.

Which is why I’ve been hiding in my bedroom for the last fifteen minutes since I got out of the shower, hoping he would get the hint and go far, far away so I can die of pain and embarrassment in peace, without the sexy football player watching my demise.

“Are you alive in there? Do I need to come rescue you? I took a CPR class once, forever ago. My chest compression skills are rusty, but it’s probably like riding a bike, right? And I’ve already kissed you once, so the mouth to mouth won’t even be awkward at all.”

Despite my current state of not awesome and potentially bleeding everywhere, my body flashes hot at the reminder of the kiss. “Haven’t you ever heard of privacy?” I grumble, loud enough for him to hear me through the door as I push up from the bed and yank on shorts and a T-shirt.

I don’t have to have x-ray vision to know the asshole is grinning. “I’m acquainted with the concept and I’m also a gentleman.” He pauses, as if he’s rethinking his words. “Sometimes,” he finishes, and I have to work to suppress the snort. “But this is one of those times, so I’m knocking to check on you and make sure you’re still alive, and also to tell you dinner is ready. Lunch? A between lunch and dinner snack? I’m not really sure, but you probably need to eat, and I kill in the kitchen.”

Swiping the hairbrush I never quite got around to using from my dresser, I yank the door open before he finishes talking.