CHAPTERFORTY
Snow
“I swear he’s here,” I tell Ariel as I pace the length of the study, my mind reeling.
We’re having a session because I’m going crazy.
“You’re one hundred percent sure?” Her eyes follow me as I go, but I can’t make myself stop. I can’t stay still. Not right now.
Breathe, Snow.
“I am.” Curling my hands into fists, my nails dig into my palms. I need to stop. And breathe. Calm.
“Why do you think he’s here?” Ariel asks, observing my every movement.
“I don’t know.” I rotate to face her. “To make me crazy?”
“Or take you back?” She lifts a brow, a questioning expression in her gaze.
“He could try.” I nearly growl my response. “He might be trying to ruin what I have.”
“How are you feeling about London?”
That takes the wind out of my sails. . .
“I don’t know. He was super mean to me, horrible, in fact. But something is wrong.” I flop down on the seat next to her.
“Well, we’re waiting for Sal, and then we can get to the bottom of this.”
“I hope we can figure it out,” I reply, my lip trembling. I will not cry. “I need him back.”
“We will get him back.” She rises from her chair, reaching out to embrace me.
Changing the subject to one of the things Ariel loves most, I say, “I guess we should get out there before they eat all the food.”
“Oh, hell no. I’ll cut Brick off.” She grins and makes a mad dash to the kitchen.
“I tried to stop her.” I snort as I rush in behind her.
“I wouldn’t let them eat without you two,” Shane replies.
“He held the food hostage,” Axel whines.
“Oh, geez, you’re going to eat.” Silas slaps him on his shoulder.
“I might starve before then,” Axel says, and I just laugh.
“She understands.” He winks at me.
“I do, big guy, let’s eat.”
Afton and Shane start setting the dishes of food on the table, and we all pass them around like civilized people. It rarely happens—it’s more like “fend for yourself” when it comes to these guys.
“Did you save some food for us?” Sal asks as he enters the kitchen.
“Sure, sit down.” Shane gets up to hug his sister, Serafina.
“Ariel, I grabbed a hair,” Sal says, taking a seat at the table. “I yanked it from him when he got into an altercation with a contestant.”