Kent wasn’t sure what time it was when Max mindlinked him, asking to talk. He had been in the sitting room with Riley for hours, he was sure. He had been in the middle of telling Riley about the time Max dared him to climb on the top of the packhouse when they were nine when he realized she had fallen asleep, her head lulling gently on his shoulder. Eventually she had shifted and her head rested on his thigh, her body curled up tight.
He was running his fingers through her hair when he heard Max. He looked up to see his best friend standing behind the couch, looking down at them.
“What’s this?” he said with a smile.
Kent put a finger to his lip, shushing Max. “She’s sleeping.”
“Obviously,” muttered Max as he walked around the couch and sunk in an armchair.
“She missed dinner so I br
