My gaze moved to Elliott and Aidan. Elliott had teamed up with Birdie, and they were going after Beckett in a coordinated attack. Aidan watched with a huge grin on his face. They were more at ease tonight than I’d ever seen them. Maybe it was the knowledge that they were safe. Maybe it was being surrounded by a boisterous family that clearly loved one another amidst the chaos. Or maybe it was the haven that Ramsey had given them at the ranch.
I swirled the ice in my glass. “I think those three are bonded for life.”
Kai let out a bark as he charged through the crowd, and I laughed. “Or should I say four?”
Hadley looked in my direction. “I think it’s more like five. You’re a part of it, too. He’s different, even since that day I dropped Sky off. You’ve opened him up to people. To life.”
A pang lit along my sternum. “I hope so because he’s done the same for me.”
“That’s the best we can hope for. Making each other better, giving each other a safe place to land.”
I looked out at all the people I loved gathered in one spot, laughing and enjoying the moment. This was a place that Ramsey and I had created, and it had come to mean everything to me.
I just hoped I could keep it.
31
SHILOH
I pulledthe blanket tighter around my shoulders as the cold sank deeper into my bones. I didn’t mind the crisp edge to the air, not when the sky was as clear as it was tonight.
Kai let out a snore as I tipped my rocker back and forth. I didn’t once take my eyes off the sky. The stars seemed to glitter in a sea of deep purple.
I wasn’t holding on to them for refuge this time. They weren’t some desperate grasp at freedom. Because I’d found some of that for myself. They remained what they had always been meant to be: beautiful. A reminder to take a moment and appreciate everything around me.
My phone buzzed in my lap, and I forced my gaze away from the sky and towards my device.
Mom:Thank you again for today. And you didn’t ask, but I like him…;-)
A smile played at my lips. Since when did my mom make winky-face signs?
Me:I’m glad you like him. And Kai.
Mom:Kai stole everyone’s hearts. Bring that boy to visit me next week.
A full laugh escaped me at that. Kai just snored louder. He had been the star of the show. But Aidan and Elliott hadn’t been far behind. My whole family had fallen in love with the boys, and I knew that Aidan and Elliott would have supporters for life. They deserved that and so much more.
I glanced down at the clock on my phone. It was almost eleven. I’d lost track of time, sitting on this precious porch of mine. My numb fingers should’ve alerted me that I’d been out here for over an hour. Ramsey had excused himself to get cleaned up, and I’d come out here to avoid the sounds of the shower inside. I didn’t need the reminder of a naked Ramsey playing around in my brain.
Pushing to my feet, I bent to give Kai a scratch. He startled awake and stared at me, bleary-eyed.
“Went a little too hard today, huh?”
His eyes started to close again.
“Come on. Let’s get you inside, and then you can go right back to sleep.”
I gave Kai another little nudge, and he clamored to his feet. He made his way towards the front door but walked as if he’d had one too many shots of whiskey. I stifled a laugh as I opened the door.
“Can you make it to your bed, or do you need an escort?”
Kai had taken to sleeping with me, but he made a beeline for his bed by the fireplace tonight as if walking the twenty extra feet to my room was too great a burden. He collapsed onto the bed and started snoring before I even turned the lock on the front door.
I keyed in the alarm code on the fancy new panel and scowled at the device. It had been incredibly kind of Cain to install it, but it pissed me off that it had been necessary. And as much as I knew that Holt was a good guy, I didn’t like having him in town either. Not when I knew it was because of me. But as oftomorrow morning, they’d all be gone, back to their homes and lives—and it would give me a chance to get back to mine.
I stood in the entryway and listened but heard nothing but Kai’s snores. I moved towards the back hallway. Glancing to the right, I saw Ramsey’s closed door. I frowned at it. The sight cut more than it should’ve. He didn’t owe me a goodnight kiss, and he was likely peopled out from the day, but that didn’t change that I wanted the brush of his lips on mine.
I forced myself to turn back to my room. I kicked off my boots and changed out of the day’s clothes. Slipping into my robe, I headed for the bathroom. Shower and sleep. That would clear away the sting.