that chair." I pointed to the one that Jase's balls were all over, then left them to it. I didn't need to stick around while they fired their shitty manager.
Footsteps followed me, and Steele caught me in a careful embrace just as I reached the stairs. "Not so fast, giggles," he told me with a laugh of his own. "You're concussed, remember? You have to stay under observation for another few hours." He kissed my throat, walking with me up the stairs.
I groaned, tilting my face to give him my best pouting face. "But Max..."
"Uh-uh, no negotiations. You can come to my room instead. I'll teach you how to play the piano." He grinned, like that was something he was really excited to do but had just been waiting for the right opportunity.
I wrinkled my nose. "I already know how."
His grin spread wider. "I'll teach you how to play properly. Trust me, Hellcat. You'll like this lesson."
Well, how was I going to pass up an offer like that? Besides, after the day we'd just had, the absolute last thing I wanted to do was be alone.
46
Steele eventually let me sleep after the fully allotted observation time was over for my concussion, but by then it was almost dawn. By the time I finally woke up, I'd long since missed my classes for the day.
So it was really no surprise when I opened my emails to find an official warning from Shadow Grove University advising that if my attendance and grades didn't improve dramatically and soon, then I'd be on academic probation.
I saved them the trouble and sent a response advising that I was withdrawing. Bree almost dying gave me a serious dose of perspective in that I had no idea how many days I might have left. I could walk out the front door in two hours and be killed by a sniper. Or mailed a time bomb. Or hit by a bus. Or any number of accidental or intentional ways my life could end.
Until I could look further into my future than tomorrow, my time at the university was a waste.
"Good morning, gorgeous," Kody greeted me, coming into the kitchen where I sat at the island with a bowl of cereal. I didn't care much what time of day it was, I just wanted Froot Loops.
I swallowed my mouthful, leaning into him as he kissed my hair. "It's actually afternoon," I told him, eyeing his pajama pants and lack of shirt. His blond hair was all mussed up, like he'd also just rolled out of bed. "Almost evening, come to think of it."
Kody just shrugged and took a sip of my coffee. "Morning is whatever you want it to be." He gave me an eyebrow waggle like that was somehow a deep and meaningful statement, then smacked a kiss on my lips and went to find his own "breakfast" in the fridge.
"How'd everything turn out last night?" I asked his sexy, tattooed back while he hunted. "With Jase, I mean."
Kody pulled out a plate of pasta that Anna had left for our dinner last night, and carried it over to the oven to reheat. "You mean after you started laughing hysterically about him jerking off on Archer's pillow?"
He said it so straight-faced, and I could already feel the laughter bubbling up in my chest again. I bit my lip, but I couldn't hide my wide grin. Kody just shook his head.
"You're the worst, babe. You know how hard it was to keep a straight face after that? We had to fire his ass and make damn sure he knew what terrible fate would befall him should he ever step foot back in Shadow Grove, and all I wanted to do was laugh at him." He planted his hands on his hips, giving me an accusing glare.
A small snicker escaped me. "It's not my fault," I protested. "These painkillers make me all loopy. Besides, how was that not hilarious? Given the stalker scale we're working with, Jase is totally on the funny end. Right?"
Kody closed up the oven with his dish of pasta inside, then came around to where I sat. He spun my chair around with me still on it, then braced his hands on the counter to either side of me.
"I fucking love this kitchen, you know that?" His tone was low and serious, all traces of teasing about Jase forgotten.
I tilted my head back, thankful the pain of those small movements had eased already. "Oh yeah? Why's