Last To Know

8

I woke up sometime after midnight and blinked my eyes open.

"What?" I asked blearily.

"Shh," Maddox crooned. "We fell asleep."

I startled.

Oh my God.

He was carrying me to bed.

He laid me down gently on my bed and pulled away. "I'll see you in the morning." His voice was soft. "Goodnight."

His lips pressed tenderly against my forehead and my eyes closed at the touch.

"Goodnight, Maddox," I whispered as he walked out of the room.

Once I knew he was gone I changed out of my clothes and into pajamas.

I snuggled beneath the covers, and soon dreams floated behind my closed lids—all of them starring a gray-eyed boy.

***

I sat up and threw the covers off my body.

Why was the doorbell ringing at—I searched for my alarm clock—six in the morning?

"Oh crap," I muttered, suddenly remembering my hedgehog babysitting duties.

I ran out of my room and down the hall, throwing open the front door.

My poor mom didn't even know I'd agreed to take care of the little creature. I knew she wouldn't care, but I still felt bad for not letting her know.

"Morning," Maddox grinned, standing with a grumpy looking Mathias who held Sonic's cage. Sonic, himself, was clasped in Maddox's hands.

I stepped aside and waved the twins into my house, while stifling a yawn.

"You can put him in my room."

Mathias grumbled something unintelligible, and I figured it translated to how much he hated the world and life itself. He just seemed like the type of guy to bitch about everything.

"This way." I guided the grumpy twin to my room.

He set the cage on top of my dresser, muttered, "Bye," and left the room.

"He hates mornings," Maddox shrugged.

"Your brother and I have that in common." I pushed my messy hair out of my eyes.

He chuckled. "Here, I made you a list." He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and shoved it in my hands.

I opened it up, squinting to make out what he'd scrawled.

He began to recite everything he'd written. Telling me how much food to give Sonic, bath time instructions, and even how often a day Sonic liked to play.

"I thought Hedgehogs were nocturnal," I muttered.

"They mostly are, but Sonic is special." Maddox grinned proudly at the hedgehog. Maddox reminded me of some of the crazy people I saw with dogs. You know the ones that talk to them all the time and kiss them? Yeah, that was Maddox, but with a hedgehog.

"Of course he is," I sighed.

Maddox frowned at the spiky creature. "I don't want to leave him."

"When will you be back?" I asked.

"Sunday night." He shoved his fingers through his messy hair.

I frowned. I remembered him saying yesterday they'd be gone through the weekend—so that meant he couldn't come to the barbeque.