Aaron and Moa sat beside me on the porch in the front yard. The time we’d spent here had soothed a part of me I hadn’t even realized was so wounded. While in Larkwood, I’d found love. What I hadn’t made were friends, and it wasn’t until I spent time with Aaron and Moa again that I remembered how much I needed that. They made me feel grounded and content and whole in a way that the men I loved couldn’t. It reminded me that I needed more than just romantic bonds in my life.
They’d come outside with me to wait no doubt because despite the confidence I’d tried to have, I still couldn’t help but worry. What if they didn’t come? What if I never saw them again? What if I was alone again?
Still, I tried to play that off, to look in control and unconcerned. The way I peeled at the label of the water bottle in my hand showed my nerves.
“They’ll come,” Moa said, but I heard her doubts loud and clear.
I shrugged in response.
“They can’tnotcome,” Aaron added on. “I saw how they looked at you—no way they’ll no-show.”
Their certainty didn’t make me feel any better. It seemed like when a parent told a kid that the only reason they were picked on was because the bully is jealous. It sounded great, but it was rarely true.
I wanted the men I loved to show up, but I understood if they didn’t.
“If they don’t come,” Aaron asked, his voice low and careful as though he hadn’t wanted to upset me. “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing changes,”I wrote. “I still have to go back. I’ll do it alone if I have to.”
“Not alone,” Moa said, reaching over to place her hand on mine. “You’re not alone anymore, Hera, no matter what happens.”
Aaron stretched across the table to set his hand on top of Moa and mine, making us feel like the team we’d been before. “We’re here. Even if they don’t show, that won’t change.”
And that helped. After thinking they’d both abandoned me, this connection to my past helped center me, helped me tell myself that no matter what, I had this handled. I could adjust and adapt and I would go after what I wanted no matter what others did.
“Take your hand off my mate before I remove it for you.”
That threat, all but snarled out in a rough and angry voice, melted me in a way that was damned near embarrassing. Though, not as embarrassing as just how fast Aaron tore his hand away.
I turned to find Brax standing there, his eyes bright and angry, the jealousy there obvious.
And with him?
Everyone.
Deacon stood beside Brax, his purple eyes appearing no happier about Aaron touching me than Brax had. Then again, those two tended to be more jealous. Wade smirked as though amused by the annoyance of the other two. Knox ignored Aaron entirely, his eyes locked on me, a hunger there that said his incubus hadn’t had its fill of me. Lastly, Kit stood near the back, tall enough for me to catch his black eyes past the others. His lips tipped up on one side, as if to laugh at me doubting any of them.
And I didn’t care if I had an audience. I didn’t care if Moa and Aaron could see, if it was awkward, if I should have been embarrassed.
I’d really worried they’d think twice, that they’d decide it wasn’t worth it to come, that they’d abandon me. Even if I wouldn’t have blamed them or been angry about it, it would have hurt.
So seeing them felt like sitting on a raft in the middle of the ocean only to finally glimpse land.
My body moved with little thought on my side. I headed right for them, like I was pretty sure I’d always do.
I paused when I got to them, uncertainty taking hold.“You came,”I signed.
Wade snorted. “Of course we came. I faced down anangrydryadfor you. Knox there banged youwith me present,Kit and Deacon broke out of Larkwood and betrayed the Warden to follow you and Brax turns into his less-friendly half whenever you’re in danger. After all that, you really doubted we’d stick with you now?”
Yeah, I really had…Except that sounded so pathetic, I kept the thought to myself.
“You really are trouble,” Deacon muttered before catching my wrist and pulling me against him. He tilted my head up and took my lips in an aggressive kiss that seemed to tell me everything while also mocking me for doubting him.
My cheeks heated when he finally broke the kiss. Even though we’d all settled into some sort of understanding between us, that didn’t mean it was easy, didn’t mean I was comfortable putting those relationships on display.
The scraping of the chairs against the porch made me turn to find Moa and Aaron standing, looking slightly awkward.
Moa spoke first. “Tomorrow’s the day. Let’s plan to meet in the morning to solidify the plans.”