Ava sat in the back of the hummer with Lucas curled around her like a blanket made of suspicion and body heat, one of his arms tucked beneath hers, the other loosely slung over her thigh.
It had been three hours and he hadn't stirred since the first twenty minutes in. Just soft breathing and the occasional unconscious twitch.
Cassi had kept it casual. No questions. No pressure. Just the road and the dusk and the occasional dry remark whenever Ava reached for another energy bar.
Ava hadn't had that in a long time.
It almost felt like peace.
Until Cassi tapped the dash with two fingers and said, "Alright, time's up. Wake sleeping beauty. We're fifteen out."
Ava sighed, and shifted carefully, pushing up slightly from the backseat, and as soon as her weight left his legs—he stirred.
One golden eye slid open.
He stirred.
Lucas blinked once, then again, and gave the faintest groan. "You moved. That was unnecessary."
