precious.” Alec, surprisingly, was the first to agree.
“Where do you want this?” Josh held up the jewelry box.
Before I could answer, a piece of paper I’d forgotten I was keeping under the box dislodged itself and fluttered to the floor. I reached for it, but Tyler got there first.
I chewed on my lip as he opened it, his slight frown of curiosity slowly giving way to amusement as he realized what it was.
He smiled at me. “You kept this?”
“What is it?” Josh leaned over, and Alec stepped around to get a better look. Ethan came back out of the walk-in to peer over all their heads.
I was once again grateful I couldn’t blush. I had no secrets from them—I loved them more than I loved my own life—but I was still a little embarrassed.
“It’s a note I wrote to Eve when she first got to Bradford Hills,” Tyler answered as Ethan gently took the piece of paper and they all looked at me.
I rolled my eyes and huffed; it was silly to be embarrassed. I mean, I’d been having sex with the man. We lived together. So what if I’d kept a silly note about school supplies?
“I had a crush on you from the first second I saw you, OK? You were a hot older guy, and you did something really thoughtful for me.” I shrugged.
They all looked as if they were trying really hard to hold back laughter, even Ty. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me through our chuckles while the others descended into full-on guffaws.
“It was wildly inappropriate at the time.” Tyler pulled away just far enough to look into my eyes. “But I was attracted to you too. I couldn’t stop thinking about leaning forward and just closing the distance between us. And then you showed up in my damn office wearing that fucking schoolgirl outfit.”
“Oh man, that skirt.” Alec groaned.
“You know I spent that whole session with a raging boner?”
“That’s why you didn’t move from behind your desk.” I slapped him on the chest.
We spent the afternoon reminiscing about the way I met them all, teasing each other and laughing as we wandered between my old room and my new one. I was fully moved in before dinner.
The view from the balcony that day had been a bit different. Summer had been ending; the leaves on the oaks lining the drive had only just started to turn.
Now, we’d come through another harsh winter. Summer was just starting. Trees budded with new growth as the morning sun streamed over the manicured grounds. The balcony was smack-dab in the middle of the mansion, and the view overlooked the massive driveway, the top of the iron gates just visible over the trees. Beyond, some of the taller buildings of the Institute peeked over the lush trees littering all of Bradford Hills.
I grabbed my bag off the bed and made my way downstairs.
They were waiting for me in the foyer, reminding me of the day of the gala when I’d come down these same stairs, feeling sexy and confused at Alec’s lascivious stares.
This time, there was nothing but love in their eyes as they looked up at me one by one.
I’d asked that people not wear black—I didn’t want it to feel like a funeral. Ethan was in jeans, a white short-sleeved shirt stretching over his broad chest. Josh was in chinos and a green polo shirt that made his eyes pop. Tyler wore gray slacks and a crisp blue shirt, the sleeves rolled up. Alec had been wearing more color lately—lifting the blackness from his heart had opened him up to all the vibrancy of life in other areas. His jeans were black, but his shirt was an electric blue.
“You look beautiful.” Tyler took my hand as I reached the bottom. I could hear it in his voice—he was speaking for all of them.
Lucian joined us, stopping his wheelchair near the ramp to the garage.
“Ready?” He looked as distinguished and dapper as ever in slacks and a light sweater.
“Ready.” I nodded, and he looked at me properly for the first time. His eyes widened a fraction as they flicked up and down my body, his gaze more disbelieving than anything.
I knew it was the dress giving him pause. He would’ve seen her wearing it before we left—I’d seen pictures of her in it from before I was born. But I was surprised at how much emotion he seemed to be feeling. His chest rose and