Damaged (Boys of Winter #2) - Sheridan Anne Page 0,154

at me, clearly already dealing with far too many other things to face this bomb straight on.

Caitlin laughs from her space on her bed, furious about his comment while also clearly very happy for him. “You are stupid,” she tells him. “But you’re also an heir. You’re practically royalty around here. Everyone is going to believe me.”

A smile pulls at King’s lips, and in a flash, his eyes come back to mine.

I see it all there, all of that raw emotion telling me that every word he just said is true. I want to talk about it, make him say it again, but I can’t push him on this. Not today, and certainly not now. I would never forgive myself if I ruined this time with his sister. So instead, I simply lean in as my heart races with fear of what this could mean and gently press a soft, quick kiss to his lips.

“EWWWWWW,” Caitlin groans before a high-pitched laughing squeal takes over her, making her sound as though she’s somewhat possessed. “Yuck. That’s gross. No kissing in my room.”

“Careful,” he laughs. “If you hate it so much, I might just let her do it again.”

“Gross,” she mutters to herself, dipping her head as her lips twist into a disgusted cringe.

“Hey,” he says, forcing her attention back to him. “You never told me how you were feeling? Are you okay? Did you sleep well? What about your leg? Is it hurting? Do you want me to get the doctor?”

Caitlin rolls her eyes, and just as she goes to reprimand her big brother for asking a million questions, the door swings open and King’s mom and little brother come striding into the room.

His mom looks like death warmed up, and I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s feeling after spending her night in the hospital by her daughter’s bedside to then come home and get the news that her husband was murdered in front of her eldest son.

“Mom,” King says, flying to his feet and taking my waist to balance me. He steps around me and instantly pulls his mom into his warm, welcoming arms. It’s such a contrast to the version of the man I met after he snuck through my bedroom window back at Kurt and Irene’s place.

King murmurs something in her ear and her face drops onto his shoulder for a long moment before she takes a deep breath and pulls back, nodding and giving what she thinks is an encouraging smile, but all I see is a broken woman who’s doing everything she can to try and be strong for her kids.

Her gaze sweeps back to me and she gives me a polite smile before looking up at her son. “What are you doing here? Is everything alright?”

King nods. “Yeah, I just wanted to sit with Caitie for a while before … you know.”

“Oh,” she says, peering over his shoulder at the two kids squished on the bed who are glued to the TV. She gives his shoulder a tight squeeze. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it. She would have loved spending time with you and getting to meet Elodie Ravenwood properly.”

“I hope so,” he whispers, reaching back for my hand. “We’ll go and give you some space to talk,” he says, drawing me back toward the door before stopping and looking back at his mom. “Just call me if you need anything.”

She gives him a tight smile, struggling to hold it together and walks to the door with us, taking the handle and gently closing it behind us as she gives herself and her babies some privacy to break their hearts.

A hollowness sits in my chest as King and I make our way back to my place, but being able to sit behind him on my bike and keep my arms wrapped around his waist goes a long way in easing that ache.

We just get into my drive when the skies open up around us and a storm tears through Ravenwood Heights. King hits the throttle, sending us soaring down the driveway, but what does it matter? We’re already soaking wet.

As we walk through the door, I hear a murmured conversation coming from the kitchen and warmth instantly settles through my broken heart. I keep my hand tightly held in King’s as we walk through my home to find Cruz, Carver, and Grayson hovering around my kitchen making breakfast.

The second they see us, the boys instantly stop what