Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
“This place has changed you,” Nic says.
“No,” I tell him. “This place is just offering me more than what Breakers Flats can. This place isn’t what’s holding me back.”
Kairo's voice comes from the back of the group, raw and filled with emotion. “So, that’s what you think? That we’re holding you back?”
I let out a sigh and meet his eyes. He looks broken and it kills me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look at me that way in all the years that I’ve known him. I walk away from Nic until I’m placed right in front of Kai. I take his hands and look up into his eyes. “Never, Kai. You boys mean the absolute world to me and at the moment, I’m trying to work out how to make room for all these new people coming into my life. I don’t even understand what this thing is between me and Colton, but to me, it feels real, and I guess … I guess I just want to know that if I decide to do something about it that you guys aren’t going to try to kill him.”
Kai shakes his head. “That’s not my call to make.”
I turn back to the guys and avoid Nic’s stare. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t. For so long, it’s been just us. No friends …”
Nic lets out a sigh and something breaks within him. “Just family,” he murmurs, finishing off the words that I know mean the absolute world to him, the same words that are tattooed on his skin as a permanent reminder of his deepest belief.
I walk back over to him and take a breath filled with relief as he allows me to take his hand. “Please don’t hate me,” I beg with a whisper. “I’m not choosing him over you. I’m just opening myself up to more.”
Nic holds my eyes, and waiting for his response has my anxiety skyrocketing until he finally pulls me into his chest. “Alright,” he finally says. “I’ll back off but if he fucking hurts you …”
“I know,” I whisper, not needing him to finish his sentence.
“This doesn’t change the fact that you’re my girl, O. It just means that I’m going to have to try a little harder.”
“You know that I love you guys.”
“I know,” he murmurs.
“And despite making a scene with his sisters and Kai trying to smuggle Charles’ Rolex, you were kicked out because Colton is jealous of our relationship, not because you guys are Black Widows.”
“Trust me,” he says with a scoff. “That’s not fucking lost on me.”
“So, you forgive me?”
He’s quiet for a minute before pulling back and gently taking my chin. He gives me a warm smile. “Mostly. I’m at 80%. I’m still pissed, but calm enough that I’m not about to go in there and whoop your boy into next week.”
“He’s not my boy.”
“He will be though. No one could resist your charm, O. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll pull you in and never let you go.”
The corner of my lips lift into a small smile, knowing how damn hard that would have been for Nic to say. “Thank you,” I whisper, keeping our moment private from the three stooges who haven’t dared to look away.
“Come on now,” Sebastian says, creeping up behind me and drawing me into his arms. “Share the love.”
I wrap myself around him and bury my face into his chest, desperately needing this moment to know that my boys are all good. I squish my face into his chest and breathe him in. I fucking love Sebastian. I don’t know where I’d be without him. He’s my best friend. He just gets me in a way that no one else does, though I’d never dare utter those words out loud. These boys can’t handle themselves when they’re jealous and tonight is a perfect example of that.
His hands rub up and down my back as the cool evening air surrounds us, and to be honest, until now I hadn’t even realized it was cold. All that mattered was making things right. “So,” he finally says in a tone that has me guarding myself. “Are you really sure about this Carrington kid? You saw what his mom did at that funeral and those sisters of his … crazy runs deep in that family.”
I laugh and hold him a little tighter. “Trust me, I’ve got it handled. I grew up with you four so I’m well-practiced. Besides, no one is crazier than me.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth,” Eli mutters, joining us and quickly pulling me out of Sebastian’s loving arms. He pulls me into his chest and I snuggle in, knowing there’s no better place in the world. “Though,” he adds. “You’re kind of a step above that shit because you come with a nasty fucking bite and a set of steel balls.”