“We’re going to have to buy more sheets if we keep doing this,” I mutter.
“Worth it.” Eli stretches in one long move, and then he’s tugging me up and to the bathroom. Abel follows us into the shower a few minutes later, and when we return to the bed, it’s to find he’s already replaced the sheets.
This time, when we all lie down together, I’m too exhausted and content to do anything but sleep.
30
Abel
Happiness is a strange sort of thing. I’m normally inclined to align with Harlow’s mistrust of it, but I can’t help thinking that with the three of us finally on the same page, there’s few forces in this world strong enough to tear us apart.
In theory.
The truth is, as always, significantly more complicated.
“Abel.”
I open my eyes to find Eli on his side, his head propped on his hand. He’s watching me with a strange look on his face. “You’re heading out soon.”
“Yeah.” As tempting as it is to spend the day in bed, I need to trek out to Old Town to get their official answer today. My father would have demanded they deliver the answer to the compound, but they’re going to agree to my rule; there’s no reason to ruffle feathers with an unnecessary power play. I doubt I’ll take either Harlow or Eli for this one, though. The first impression was the big thing that mattered. Now it’s just tying up some loose ends.
“I…” He hesitates and huffs out a breath. “There’s one last thing that needs to be said.”
“Eli—”
“I’m sorry I didn’t come after you. I’m sorry I let eight fucking years go by without finding you… That I would have let more years pass.” For once, he’s not even attempting to bullshit. That raw tone is back in his voice, though I don’t need to hear it to know this is the truth.
I reach out and lightly clasp his throat. “It wouldn’t have mattered. We intentionally made ourselves hard to find, and even if you were successful, I might have killed you.”
“I might have deserved it.”
I shake my head slowly. I believed that when I first came back to Sabine Valley. I don’t believe it any longer. “No. If I’d been thinking clearly back then, I would have realized that you’d try to handle shit so I wouldn’t have to.” I stroke the line of his throat with my thumb. “Love makes fools of us all, doesn’t it?”
“That’s what they say.” His voice is so hoarse, it’s barely above a whisper. “I want to make things right.”
“We will. Harrow’s right, though. It’s going to be a long road.” I slowly retract my hand. “When I get back from Old Town, I’d like to sit down and go over some plans with you and Harrow. I want more details on the stuff you’ve already implemented, a look at the finances, and to put together some ideas for the next few months.”
His slow smile has my goddamn heart skipping a beat. Eli grabs my hand and presses a kiss to my palm. “I’d like that. I…I never dared dream that you’d end up back here, that we’d actually put into action everything we talked about when we were younger. It makes me happy.”
Is that what this feeling is in my chest? Happiness? It’s like sunshine in the middle of the night. “You might not stay happy once we start negotiating.”
“Maybe. But I’ve missed our negotiations, Abel. I’ve missed a whole hell of a lot when it comes to you.” He releases me. “You should go. Being late to meeting up with Old Town is a bad idea.”
“Yeah.” But I don’t immediately get out of bed. “I’m glad you found her, Eli. I’m glad we both did.”
We look down at Harlow, sleeping between us. The balance we never realized we needed, might have never looked for if shit didn’t get so fucked up eight years ago. I’m not one to say that everything happens for a reason, because I don’t believe that there’s some higher power out there who’s invested in humanity’s suffering. But even I can’t deny the gift Harlow is.
I carefully slip out of bed. Harlow was right last night. Her bed isn’t anywhere near big enough for all three of us. We’ll have to officially move into the other room tonight. Eli and Harlow might have some shit to say about that, some desire to create a little bit of distance now that we’ve blasted through so many walls.
Fuck that.
I have them. I’m keeping them. I’m tired of dicking around while I wait for them to come to terms with it. I brush my hand over Harlow’s head and then Eli’s and pull on my clothes. I feel his gaze on me before I make it to the door. Sure enough, when I turn around, Eli is watching me. “Take care of each other while I’m gone.”