“We were all freaking out!”she cut in, her voice rising as she gestured wildly.“You disappeared in the middle of a storm, nobody could reach you, Benji was losing it—we all were!”
My grip on Jaxon’s hand tightened slightly as her words sank in.
“Oh.”
Right.
That.
Guilt crept in almost immediately.
“I—my phone died,” I said quickly, glancing over at Benji, my expression softening.“I’m sorry.I didn’t think—”
Which was the problem.
I didn’t.
Because I wasn’t used to it.
Wasn’t used to people noticing when I was gone.Wasn’t used to anyone worrying enough for it to matter.
For so long, it had just been—
Me.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” I admitted, quieter now as I looked back at Nerissa.
Her expression shifted instantly, and before I could say anything else, she stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug.
“It is a big deal, hun,” she said firmly.“To us, we look out for our own, and like it out not, you're one of us.We’re family.”
Something in my chest tightened at that.
Family.
I always had my grandma, but everyone else in my family felt estranged.They didn't care about my wellbeing, only the connections that came with it.So this—the no-strings-attached type of concern—was new to me, but definitely not unwelcome.
I swallowed, my arms coming up to hug her back.
“Yeah, okay,” I said quietly.
“And you!”Nerissa released me and slapped Jaxon's arm.“You should know better.”
“Why do you hit so fucking hard?”he grumbled, rubbing the bruised area.“Rissa, she was fine.”
“We didn't know that, asshole.”
“Benji—”
“Your words to Benji were‘she's fine, we're fine, go away’.You inconsiderate ass,” she added, punctuating every word with a hit.“Honestly, men are so stupid sometimes.”
“We were a little busy,” Jaxon added, his lips curling into a smirk.
Nerissa moved to slap him again and he jumped out of the way.
“Easy, you tiny devil.I've suffered enough.Besides, Benji forgives me.Right, B?”
Benji didn't respond.
