Despite our conversation, I was worried about King’s reaction, but instead of looking pissed, he looked thoughtful. I mean, he still looked annoyed as hell, but I could tell what I told him upset him.
I found it harder and harder to be mad at Stratton, the more time passed. I mean, he honestly thought he was protecting me. He was wrong, but he did. When backed into a corner, you did what you needed to in order to protect the people you love…
…Was I doing that? With the bullying situation? No. I would deal with that later.
“He should have told us.” Kingston frowned but then examined my face. “You believe Stratton though, right? You know he would never say shit like that if he didn’t feel like he had to. He used to get in fights with people in school for even saying your name in the wrong tone. A ‘lost puppy’ is literally the exact opposite of how he views you.”
“That was what the fights were about?” I demanded sharply.
“Every single time.”
“I don’t know how to fix things with him. I don’t know what to do with any of this,” I admitted quietly, his fingers smoothing over my neck in a relaxing fashion.
“For now, you don’t have to do anything,” he answered before scowling. “Besides bring your phone places.”
“It was charging!” I smiled.
Voices sounded from downstairs, and my brows shot up. My mom! Kingston flashed me a smile, moving across the room and locking the door as he nodded towards my closet. I quickly gathered clothes and got ready as more voices sounded downstairs. Was it already dinner time?
“You need clothes,” I hissed, motioning to him. He put up a finger, and I jumped when there was a knock on the door. He opened it and Yates stepped in, King flashing a smile and taking the offered pile of clothes to the bathroom as Yates leaned against the door and shot me a smirk.
“You should get dressed, bunny,” he rumbled.
I felt myself smile, but I grabbed my clothes and passed King as he walked out fully dressed. I made quick work of getting in cozy clothes as I considered everything that Kingston had said.
We had said ‘I love you’ before, but I’d always thought it was in the way you love a friend, on his end… clearly I’d been wrong. I mean, we were all always together. I cuddled with them. Went to large social events together as dates. I went to family parties with them, even for out of town events. We vacationed together.
Holy shit!
“Have we all been dating this entire time?!” I demanded as both boys looked at me. King broke into a laugh and opened the door, strolling out as Yates offered me an amused smile.
“Glad you finally caught on, bunny.”
How did he know about our conversation?
I forced myself to scowl at him as he shut my bedroom door and tugged my hand so we were jogging down the steps. A weird surge of hope rushed over me for the first time in a long time. That feeling had been growing, and god, I hoped it didn’t go away.
I had been so focused on hiding my feelings that I hadn’t really examined how they were acting. I was so wrong about all my assumptions. They apparently loved… me. They loved me. I looked up at Yates, blushing as he offered me an authentic smile and a wink as I realized everyone was over.
Okay, maybe this wouldn’t take much of an adjustment….
That hope grew. Hope that I was deserving of love.
If my boys loved me, I couldn’t be completely worthless, right?