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“Then if you aren’t here to ostracize him and kick him from the group, you can talk to him,” he said. “But you should do it.” He pointed to me.
I stepped forward, easing Victor to the side. “I’ll go.”
“He’s in the library,” he said. “First door on your right. To keep the noise down, I’ll stay out here with your friends.” He motioned to them. “Let’s get off the porch. It echoes.”
Liam left the porch with the others, having them step out into the yard. Luke and Victor continued to look back at me while I was in view.
I was more intimidated stepping into the house alone. The foyer’s air was cool, and the space dim. When I closed the door behind myself, I stilled. How desperate I’d been to get to him, yet here I was, so close and hesitating.
Part of me was worried I’d done something horrible to Nathan. Liam had said he was destroying himself.
He didn’t deserve to feel like that. I did. I should have come after him sooner.
The thin bit of light coming from the library drew my attention. He was in there. Waiting.
What was I going to say?
“Sang?” a woman’s voice whispered from the stairs.
Startled, I jolted where I stood.
Lily was standing on the top step. Like a ghost, she descended, coming to me. Her footsteps were light on the stairs, barely making a sound. Her pale face loomed close.
She whispered to me. “Don’t tell Liam, but I’ve been listening to them talk in the library.”
So she knew everything? “You were hiding?”
“Liam is a lot like your Nathan. Protective. And once they started talking, I didn’t want to interrupt. Sometimes it’s better if the guys share together. They can relate a bit more.”
I looked toward the library and then back to her. “I needed to ask you something.”
“I figured you were hesitating for a reason,” she said. “Why aren’t you going to him?”
“Because...I don’t know if I should do this. To them. Encourage them into a relationship like this.”
She nodded slowly. “Because you saw him with someone else?”
My lips quivered. I didn’t want to picture Danielle with Nathan, but it was one of the images in my head I fought against. “It seems so unfair, but I don’t want to change...with him. And...” I didn’t know how to express myself to her.
Slowly, she reached for me, putting a comforting hand on my back.
I stood where I was, in the dark with her, trying to put my raging emotions in check. Part of me was surprised I didn’t recoil from her, like I had with other people.
Lily smoothed her hand carefully over the jacket I wore. “Don’t be afraid to face him,” she said. “What you’re doing now—waiting—that’s the hardest part. Once you see him, once you’re near him, you’ll feel better. And you should forgive him.”
“I do. I know...it wasn’t intentional.”
“Don’t go to him crying,” she said. “Don’t tell him your doubts right now. He’s doubting enough. He needs to know you care. He needs to know they all care about him. We can sort out the other part later, okay? He just needs you.”
I nodded, willing to do as she said, wishing more than anything to repair what had been damaged. “Okay.”
“Don’t make him wait.” She urged me forward.
Once she nudged me, I moved without thought, floating to the library.
She stepped away as I opened the door, facing this alone.
It was up to me.
In Repair
Nathan
Nathan was standing by the fireplace when Sang walked in. He knew she was here, that she had arrived. Their car lights could be seen through the windows.
When Liam left to go meet them at the door, Nathan held his breath for long moments, exhaling only when it burned too much.
Waiting.
Hoping she was here.
When the door opened, he turned, finding her standing in the doorway.
Alone.
He hadn’t anticipated that. Where was Liam?
Her green eyes were wide. Her hair was pulled back into a bun on top of her head. She wore dark pants and a sweatshirt. There was a bruise on her face, around her cheek.
She was beautiful, like always.
He thought he was ready for this, but he wasn’t. The moment he saw her face, he lowered his shoulders, sheepishly flailing from his position. Excuses and apologies flooding his mouth, stopping just before they came out.
She’d carried a book in with her, but she dropped it when their eyes connected.
She rushed at him, her arms open.
He turned to her, the fear, the turmoil in him slipping out once he realized she was coming for him.
She ran into his arms, pushing herself against him. Her face buried into his shoulder as her arms went around his waist.
He held her, his hands at her back. He took a step away from the fire, too hot at his legs. She clung to him as he shifted.
He breathed her in. Her cheek pressed to his chest. He buried his nose in her hair.
Relief flooded through him. It took over his body until he was weak against her, shaking, mind crazy.
How did she know? How did she always know just what he needed? Her touch, strong against him, telling him she’d worried about him, that she came because she knew all that happened.
She didn’t hate him.
She knew.
She didn’t have to say it.
He pulled back, and it was her lips that found his. Her lips that pressed against his mouth, sear
ching.
Like she was asking for forgiveness.
She had nothing to ask for, but he kissed her anyway. He dipped his head down, kissing deeply. His lip was still healing, but he ignored that pain.
He loved her.
And in that one moment, that single moment with her, kissing her by the fire, all the other doubt he’d had about the plan, about if she wanted this, about how it would all work in the future. It all vanished. They’d been through this much together. He’d screwed up so much.
Yet she was here. Not a word about what had happened.
He lifted a hand, fingers moving through her hair to rest his palm against the back of her head. He held her to himself, all the fear disappearing.
He thought to stop it, but he didn’t want to let go. Not when he had her back in his arms.
He’d change this. He’d find a house for her. He’d tell the guys he was in. For as long as she wanted them to be together. That they’d make the team work. He’d take the fall for Erica, if he needed to. He’d live in secret.
Eventually the kiss did break, but they didn’t talk. They simply clung to one another, pressed into each other.
She buried her face into his chest. He hugged her.
He promised himself, and later he’d promise her.
This was going to be his first priority from now on.
~A~
Sang
Nathan and I sat next to each other on the ride home in the late hours. We were in Kota’s car. Victor and Luke went to Victor’s house. He was going to check in with his parents and then leave shortly after to join us.
I made sure the boys said nothing to Nathan about what happened as we were leaving. They’d promised Mr. Blackbourne. They promised me with just a look we shared when Nathan and I exited Lily’s house.
He’s back. Don’t pressure him. Let’s go home.
At first in the car, Nathan kept his distance from me, sitting on his side and focused on the road.
But I eased closer. On the way down the drive, he put an arm around my shoulders.
