Oh my God. It’s really fucking her.
She offers her hand to the mouse, who scurries onto her fingers, and she carefully cradles it against her chest.
Peering out of the corner of my eye, I glance at Ash, who’s watching her with the same state of awe that I am. She’s been here the entire time, in our own house.
A knock sounds on the door, echoing in the deafening silence of the room.
“It’s Jules,” Cirella’s friend calls out, and someone immediately lets her in.
She whispers, which I doubt is needed, given how far from the front entrance we are, “All right, we have a room ready to store everything in if you guys want to follow me. And then we can go back to work so we don’t look suspicious.”
Everyone obeys her immediately, quietly filing out of the room, including Alora, Malik, Blair, Griffin, Elias, and Finn. I don’t know where our friends plan on blending in, but honestly, right now, I couldn’t care less.
Cirella steps forward, and I steal a fast glance at Ash, who is looking at me knowingly with narrowed eyes.
She strides forward, her pace quickening, and we’re right on her tail.
I click my tongue as she tries to slip through the door, and Ash shuts it right as I circle my fingers along her waist, pulling her back from the threshold.
“I don’t think so. We need to talk,” I rasp, my voice deep.
Asher locks the door and slides the bolt into place. Even if someone has a key, they can’t get in.
Leaning down, he presses his lips into the blonde waves by her ear. “Hello, Princess.”
Slowly, she turns around with big doe eyes and parted lips. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just wanted to help.”
Reaching out, I brush my finger along her hairline, tucking it back behind her ear, just like she had it the night of the engagement party. “And you helped so much.”
“Mr. Kensington and Adrianna will probably be looking for you,” she stammers.
“Unlikely,” Asher says, running a finger under her chin and tipping her head back. “Besides, you aren’t getting rid of us that easily.”
She swallows hard. “I think you must have me confused with someone else …”
“Take the mask off, Princess. Don’t you think you’ve kept your boys waiting long enough?” I beg, desperately needing her to acknowledge the connection between us. “Look, we may have been idiots to not realize who you were sooner, that you were living in our house, right under our noses. But you’d be sorely mistaken to think we’re leaving this room without making sure you know exactly where we stand.”
“I-I—” she stammers, but Asher cuts her off.
“Take a deep breath. Please. Before you try to convince us that you’re not who we know you are.”
Her gaze bounces back and forth, sheer anxiety and panic glimmering in her eyes.
Wetness starts to form, welling just above her lashes.
Shit.
Asher comforts her, cupping her shoulders and meeting her eyeline. “Hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”
“It’s all right,” I murmur.
Fear creeps into my body, tightening around my throat. Did we push her too hard, too fast? Did we mess this all up?
But my doubts fade away because a second later, she launches herself toward us, her arms around our waists and face pressed between us.
The world falls silent around me, only the sound of my heartbeat thumps in my ears.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice is muffled, and her bottom lip trembles.
