he murmurs, finishing off the words that I know mean the absolute world to him, the same words that are tattooed on his skin as a permanent reminder of his deepest belief.
I walk back over to him and take a breath filled with relief as he allows me to take his hand. “Please don’t hate me,” I beg with a whisper. “I’m not choosing him over you. I’m just opening myself up to more.”
Nic holds my eyes, and waiting for his response has my anxiety skyrocketing until he finally pulls me into his chest. “Alright,” he finally says. “I’ll back off but if he fucking hurts you …”
“I know,” I whisper, not needing him to finish his sentence.
“This doesn’t change the fact that you’re my girl, O. It just means that I’m going to have to try a little harder.”
“You know that I love you guys.”
“I know,” he murmurs.
“And despite making a scene with his sisters and Kai trying to smuggle Charles’ Rolex, you were kicked out because Colton is jealous of our relationship, not because you guys are Black Widows.”
“Trust me,” he says with a scoff. “That’s not fucking lost on me.”
“So, you forgive me?”
He’s quiet for a minute before pulling back and gently taking my chin. He gives me a warm smile. “Mostly. I’m at 80%. I’m still pissed, but calm enough that I’m not about to go in there and whoop your boy into next week.”
“He’s not my boy.”
“He will be though. No one could resist your charm, O. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll pull you in and never let you go.”
The corner of my lips lift into a small smile, knowing how damn hard that would have been for Nic to say. “Thank you,” I whisper, keeping our moment private from the three stooges who haven’t dared to look away.
“Come on now,” Sebastian says, creeping up behind me and drawing me into his arms. “Share the love.”
I wrap myself around him and bury my face into his chest, desperately needing this moment to know that my boys are all good. I squish my face into his chest and breathe him in. I fucking love Sebastian. I don’t know where I’d be without him. He’s my best friend. He just gets me in a way that no one else does, though I’d never dare utter those words out loud. These boys can’t handle themselves when they’re jealous and tonight is a perfect example of that.
His hands rub up and down my back as the cool evening air surrounds us, and to be honest, until now I hadn’t even realized it was cold. All that mattered was making things right. “So,” he finally says in a tone that has me guarding myself. “Are you really sure about this Carrington kid? You saw what his mom did at that funeral and those sisters of his … crazy runs deep in that family.”
I laugh and hold him a little tighter. “Trust me, I’ve got it handled. I grew up with you four so I’m well-practiced. Besides, no one is crazier than me.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth,” Eli mutters, joining us and quickly pulling me out of Sebastian’s loving arms. He pulls me into his chest and I snuggle in, knowing there’s no better place in the world. “Though,” he adds. “You’re kind of a step above that shit because you come with a nasty fucking bite and a set of steel balls.”
“You’re damn right, I do.”
I can practically feel Nic’s eyes roll behind me as Kairo steps into my side. “Come on,” he says, peeling my hand off Eli’s back and slipping his into it. He pulls me away and the others follow. “We should get out of here,” he says, leading me around the side of the house.
“What you mean is that you have a date tonight that’ll end with a guaranteed fuck and you want to get your ass back home before you miss your shot.”
Kairo scoffs. “Babe, I never miss my fucking shot. I could show up at her doorstep at four in the fucking morning and she’ll still drop to her knees.”
“Ugh,” I say, pretending to gag as he loops our joined hands over my shoulder. “Have I ever told you how disgusting you are?”
“Constantly.”
“Good. Just making sure.”
The boys chat among themselves as we walk through the massive property, but as we finally reach the front of the mansion, all five of us pull up and find ourselves staring.