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It would never be enough.
Tears slipped down my cheeks as a lump of anguish lodged in my throat.I softly sniffed, trying to hold back my sorrow, but I couldn’t stem the flow.The ache in my heart felt insurmountable.
Suddenly, Nick’s sat phone beeped.Bolting upright, he silenced the alarm while I quickly dried my tears.But when I sniffed, he snapped his head my way.
“What’s wrong, little one?”he whispered, cupping my face in concern.
I couldn’t do it…couldn’t tell him I’d fallen in love with them and that I was falling apart at the seams.
“I had a bad dream…about my parents,” I lied.
“Aww, pet.Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, Sir.I’m fine.I have the same nightmare from time to time.It always leaves me a little rattled.”Guilt, for lying to him, pumped through my veins.
“We’ll stay with you and not go hunting if you need us to.”
“No.That’s not necessary.It was just a dream,” I assured, forcing a smile I didn’t feel.
“Okay.We won’t be gone long.In fact, we’ll be back before you know it.”
I forced a wider smile.“Then I’ll roll over and go back to sleep.”
“Okay, little one.We’ll be back in time for lunch.”Reaching over me, he shook Dylan’s shoulder.“Get up, man.It’s time to go hunting.”
“What?Huh?”Dylan sat up but wasn’t fully awake.
“Hunting.Time to go,” Nick repeated.
“Oh, yeah.”Dylan scrubbed a hand over his face, then smiled down at me.“Good morning, gorgeous.What are you doing awake?”
“I had a nightmare, but I’m fine now.”Though my heart was dissolving into a million pieces, I smiled.
Dylan rolled over, caging me with his body before kissing my lips with a ferocious growl.“Keep the bed warm, kitten.We’re gonna set it…and you on fire when we get back.”
I clung to his blue eyes, twinkling with promise, longer than I should have.Thankfully, he didn’t notice before leaping out of the bed.
But Nick did.He pinned me with an intense stare.“You sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, Sir.I’m fine,” I assured, cupping his neck and drawing him to my lips.“Go on and do your man stuff.I’m going to stay here and keep the bed warm.”
“Not too warm, little one.You don’t have permission to come without us.”He smirked as his gaze delved deeper.
Keep the mask in place.No cracks.No fissures.And NO falling apart.
After a long moment, he winked and stood.I sprawled out my arms and legs, pretending I was enjoying all the space.But in reality, I was soaking up the traces of warmth and inhaling their masculine scents while dying a little inside.
Holding tight to every ounce of willpower I possessed, I watched as they got dressed.As soon as the front door of the barn snicked shut, I buried my face in their pillows and sobbed.
Outside, the pickup roared to life.And as the gravel crunched beneath their tires—matching my breaking heart—they drove away, taking all the peace and happiness they’d brought me with them.
There was no way I would be able to keep myself together when they returned.I’d barely been able to hold back my tears while they got dressed.I knew in my heart; these torturous minutes were only a precursor to the heartache to come.
My pitiful wails filled the air.
“It wasn’t supposed to end this way,” I wailed.
Clutching their pillows to my face again, I sobbed and breathed in their rugged scent.
